BRITAIN’S first house made of trash has opened its doors to heaps of praise after a university proved its idea was not a load of old rubbish.

The house at the University of Brighton was opened yesterday, and although it looks ordinary, its components are anything but. They include 19,800 old toothbrushes, two tonnes of denim jeans, 4,000 video cassettes and 2,000 used carpet tiles – more than 85% of material used was classed as rubbish.

The Brighton Waste House, launched in 2012, was designed by University of Brighton lecturer and architect Duncan Baker-Brown.

Mr Baker-Brown said: “The building is literally locking in waste rather than having it burnt, buried into landfill sites or dumped in the ocean.”

Students, apprentices, local builders and schoolchildren have been involved with the construction and there are plans to train students and apprentices around emerging green industries.

TV designer and presenter Kevin McCloud endorsed the project and said: “I’m very pleased that the University of Brighton is committed to exploring new low-carbon methods of building.

“It’s exciting to think that the campus could have its own practical demonstration building and I’m delighted to be connected to the university through this innovative piece of construction.”