VIRTUALLY free accommodation is provided for certain people in Tavistock, thanks to a charity founded by a generous benefactor more than 100 years ago.

Members of Tavistock Town Council were last week given a brief on the role of the Marshall and Brown Memorial Homes Trust by its chairman, Russell Woolcock.

Mr Woolcock told members the Marshall Trust was founded in 1890, followed shortly after, in 1909, by the Browns Trust.

The two trusts are now combined and own land and bungalows in Whitchurch Road and off Launceston Road, by Tavistock Hospital.

Mr Woolcock said some land in Whitchurch Road was sold by the trust in 1970 because it had insufficient funds to keep the buildings going.

In total, the trust now administers 15 bungalows, eight in Whitchurch Road and seven by the hospital.

Mr Woolcock said the trust employs a warden, who is supplied with accommodation, to oversee the bungalows and a gardener to tend the grounds.

The properties have also been renovated and have updated bathrooms and kitchens.

Mr Woolcock said: 'We charge no rent to our tenants, they have free gas, they do pay for electricity but because of their age they pay no tax or TV licence fees etc, they are virtually living there for free.'

But Mr Woolcock said that, amazingly, the trust has had difficulties in finding tenants when a bungalow did become available.

'I think it's because of the definition of people who can apply,' he said.

'The residents have to be persons who through misfortune have been reduced from better circumstances, they must have lived in the area for at least seven years and they must be over sixty.'

Mr Woolcock said the trust had applied to the Charity Commission to extend the area from which applicants may apply, in an effort to attract more interest in the bungalows.

Vacancies, when they do occur, are advertised locally.