More than 3.7 million over-50s are planning to make major renovations to their home over the next 12 months, according to a new report.

A survey from Saga has revealed that just under a third of UK adults aged 50 and over are planning to fit a new kitchen, with a further 31 per cent set to refurbish their bathroom.

The most popular reason for making changes is to keep up with new trends and modernise their property, while 29 per cent of over-75s are doing so to allow them to  stay in their homes and therefore remain independent for longer.

For the second successive year, Saga is supporting the Architect in the House fundraising campaign, which offers homeowners the chance to have a free one-hour consultation with a qualified architect.

Dr Ros Altmann, director general of Saga, said: "We are really pleased to be supporting such a worthy charity, which improves the lives of homeless people and of people with housing needs.

"We are also happy to be able to help people get advice from a professional architect, which could be the difference between a DIY disaster and a show home success."