The first houses in a super-safe retirement village being built by nuns have been completed.

The Augustinian Order, based at Ditchling Common, near Lewes, is celebrating the completion of the first phase of its £58 million development.

It will combine a nursing home with 225 apartments, and facilities including treatment rooms, a bowling green, tennis court, leisure centre, refurbished chapel, fishing lake and sauna.

The village, for the over-60s, has won a Secure By Design award from Sussex Police, given to projects which are designed with excellent security measures incorporated.

More than 800 people have already expressed an interest in buying a flat when they come on the market later this year.

The Augustinian Order was set up in the mid-19th Century.

Today the sisters' charity, Augustinian Care, runs the existing St George's care home on the site as well as three others in Buckinghamshire, Devon and Scotland.

The existing home is being turned into apartments and a new home.

The aim is to offer elderly people a place where they can grow old without worries, in a lively village that also has excellent care facilities on site and high-level security.

It also means couples who would usually be split up if one required 24-hour care and the other did not will be able to live side by side within the development, called St George's Park.

The architects and project team worked closely with Sussex Police's crime prevention team design adviser to reduce risks.

Access to all the buildings will be carefully monitored and traffic will be restricted at night to a single entry point.

The physical security of windows and external doors have been specified to high standards.

There will be enhanced lighting throughout the village and a CCTV network monitoring key areas such as entry routes and car parking areas.

Studies have found a 50 per cent reduction in crime in areas with Secure by Design accreditation.

Philip Smith, sales and marketing director at St George's Park, said: "Not only is this a wonderful, rural location but it is also a very secure place to live in and we are delighted to have won this award."

The care home, which will look after 180 people, will be paid for by proceeds from the sale of the apartments, priced between £289,000 and £399,000.

The charity will have first refusal on resales and sellers will have to give 20 per cent of any profits back.

For information, visit www.stgeorgespark.co.uk or call 01444 259732.