Steve and Eva Mason have spent the last three years renovating their home in Middle Barton but need to relocate to the south east because of a job opportunity.

The couple have put Greenways, in Church Lane, on the market at a guide price of £450,000.

Mr Mason has recently landed a job as sales and marketing director for an international furniture company in Kent.

The Masons have completely re-wired and re-plumbed the once-neglected cottage and installed gas central heating.

They have also refitted the kitchen and bathroom and added a downstairs cloakroom.

Mrs Mason said: “I like things to be tidy and orderly and hated the mess while the work was going on. However, it has all been worth it and we are very proud of the way it looks now.”

For Mr Mason the location has been perfect. He said: “Middle Barton is very rural and yet not too far from anywhere. I can drive to Heathrow or Birmingham airport in an hour, Bicester station is easy to get to, and we have Oxford and the Cotswolds on the doorstep.

“We will miss the relatively traffic-free roads when we move to Kent!”

Built around 1860, Greenways was originally three cottages.

During the 1940s, the house was rented and the Masons recently had a visit from an elderly American lady who had lived here with her US Air Force husband and baby.

On the ground floor the property has an entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, cloakroom and kitchen.There are three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.

Particularly attractive features include reclaimed wooden doors with wooden latches, window seats and beams.

French doors lead from the sitting room to a patio giving access to a pretty, south-facing garden with a lawn, mature shrubs, apple trees and a small ornamental pond.

There is a newly-built detached timber single garage and parking for two more cars on the driveway.

Mrs Mason said: “We got married and lived in Kent for several years, so we still have many friends there, but we will really miss this part of the world.

“It is so peaceful and quiet and there is a real community spirit in the Bartons, with lots going on all the time and a monthly village bulletin to keep everyone informed.”

For more details, call Saviils on 01865 339700.