Young estate agent Charlie Craddock is the pride of his office after packing boxes on his days off to help an elderly house-mover.

The 21-year-old rolled up his sleeves after he realised the vendor, who has health problems, was struggling with the reluctant sale of the former family home at Greatstone, near New Romney.

After first selling the three-bedroom property, Charlie found him a more suitable one-bedroom bungalow at nearby Lydd, helped him with his paperwork, then, aided by a colleague, packed his boxes and even helped unpack at the other end.

Charlie’s boss, Steve Hutchens, senior branch partner at the New Romney branch of Ward and Partners, said: “The client was having to consider small flats that were pretty much unsuitable, until Charlie had the idea of introducing him to our friends at Homewise, a firm which helps people find innovative solutions to housing problems.

“They managed to stretch the client’s budget and find him a bungalow where he would be very happy. But at this point it became apparent that the client was not really capable of organising the move on his own. Step forward Charlie again, together with his colleague, Curtis Allen.

“Between them, they helped the client with every aspect of the transaction and move, from completing all the paperwork and clearing 35 years-worth of accumulated stuff, to packing and unpacking again at the new property. And all in their own time, including Sundays.

“In over 30 years in the industry, I have never seen such determination to help someone move.”

Charlie, a former pupil at Tenterden’s Homewood School, said: “It was a pleasure helping this gentleman get over the line and into his dream home. He’s really enjoying his retirement now.”