Straw council houses taking shape

Each house will have three bedrooms and wood burning stoves

Building work on two council houses in Lincolnshire, which are being built from straw, is nearing completion.

North Kesteven District Council claims to be the first UK local authority to use straw technology for its housing.

The ground floor straw bale walls have been built at the houses in Waddington. First floor walls and roofs are due to be finished later this week.

The authority has said the straw houses are cheaper to build and more sustainable than brick.

Members of the public are being encouraged to get involved, with training courses in natural construction being run on site.

Councillor Marion Brighton, the council's leader, said: "The houses in Waddington are really beginning to take shape.

"Now that the straw bale walls are up, it's very exciting to see. They are starting to look like houses that people could actually live in."

It is hoped that both buildings will be rendered by mid-October.

A further two houses are due to be built in Martin.