Carole and Michael Lintern, who live in Somerset, are retiring after more than 30 years as carers.

They have supported Samantha since she was a teenager and moved to Shared Lives services, when she was 18 years old.

The couple felt it was the right time to retire as Samantha announced she was going to get married, and wanted to move in with her husband James in Wiltshire.

“Originally Samantha came to stay for a weekend,” said Carole.

“Twenty-two years later she’s still here,” joked Michael.

“We never planned on being carers, it just happened and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m 75 now, so it’s time to retire.”

Carole and Michael are extremely proud of how Samantha has blossomed while living with them.

“When she came here, she couldn’t read or write,” said Carole.

“She had no clothes. Now has so many clothes! I didn’t realise how many she has until she started packing to move out.”

Despite getting married Carole and Michael will still be in Samantha’s life.

“We are season ticket holders at Queen’s Park Rangers and have been going ever since Samantha moved in with us,” said  Michael.

“She’ll still come to see games with me.”

“James likes bellringing and playing the keyboard, it’s important Samantha has her own interests too.”

Straight after James and Samantha got married, the couple went on honeymoon with Carole and Michael.

“The holiday was planned before they announced the wedding,” said Michael.

“We went to the Fjords. We love cruising and we also took Samantha and James on a cruise in the Caribbean in October.”

“Previously we used to go to Disney and fly, but Samantha was very anxious, so we had to find a way around that and that’s why we cruise,” added Carole.

“Samantha talks to everyone on the ship and we have people coming up to us saying you must be Samantha’s mum and dad!”

On return from the amazing honeymoon all of them start a new chapter in her life.

“I do worry for her as it’s a big step moving out, but she has coped so well with everything,” said Carole.

“James is a nice guy, he loves her to bits and that’s important to us and to us feels we’ve done well,” said Michael.

Now they have more time on their hands Carole and Micheal will be doing things for themselves.

“I like bowls so will be playing more,” said Carole.

“We have a garden so I’ll be spending more time out there,” said Michael.