a family are doing without bricks and mortar for their new home in Putley - they are building it out of straw.

For Kester Wilkinson, it is a chance to build a four-bedroom dream home for his wife and children cheaply.

The construction technology was developed 150 years ago on the plains of Nebraska, USA.

Mr Wilkinson, a civil servant in Gloucester, said: "I fell in love with the idea. I've always wanted to build my own home but couldn't afford the house I wanted to live in."

Since April, Mr Wilkinson, his wife Zinnia and their two children India, aged three, and Liberty, aged one, have been living in a one-bedroom mobile home at The Sladd, Putley.

But early in May, Herefordshire Council granted planning permission for the straw bale house which, when built, will be one of a handful in the British Isles and certainly the biggest straw building in Herefordshire.

Mr Wilkinson said: "It is our dream home. There's not much history of these kinds of houses being sold. We will build this as our final house. We hope to move in by Christmas."

He said that simplicity and cost were important factors, together with the beauty of such homes, which are well insulated, have "no straight edges" and offer thick walls suitable for window seats.

"It's difficult to cost but because it's simple and I'll be saving on the labour. I would expect it to cost under £50,000."

To build a straw bale home, normal bales are used, about 40 inches long and 18 inches wide.

One technique is to stack the bales and fix them with hazel pins. The weight of a timber roof adds further solidity. The bales are then plastered with mud and finished with lime rendering, to keep out the damp. Mr Wilkinson plans to use a light timber frame of posts for added solidity.

Barbara Jones, who taught Mr Wilkinson the craft, said: "If straw bale homes are looked after, there's no reason why they shouldn't last two generations. We know that some in America have lasted 100 years with no problems at all."