WORCESTERSHIRE'S first eco-school will be a beacon for the future of environmentally friendly education in Britain, says a Government minister.

The state-of-the-art Red Hill Primary School, off London Road, Worcester, was officially opened by environment minister Ian Pearson yesterday.

The new £3.5 million building has a rainwater toilet flushing system, a roof covered in vegetation to provide insulation and a habitat for wildlife, solar-powered ventilation and ground source heating that draws in heat through boreholes in the ground.

Mr Pearson, minister for climate change and the environment, said: "This is a fantastic school. It's exactly the sort of thing we need to be doing more of as a government.

"Our Building Schools for the Future programme ensures that we install as many environmental features as possible. This school shows how it can be done. This is a school that will be able to adapt to climate change in future."

The school's 300 pupils, aged between five and 11, moved into the new building, which replaces the 1960s buildings on the same site, at Easter.

Headteacher Jane Long said she was proud to teach at the school.

"It has state-of-the-art facilities and we have already started to adapt the curriculum to reflect the building," she said.

Pupils were equally enthusiastic. Ben Gardener, aged 11, said: "It's much better than the old school. The classrooms are much bigger. All schools should be like this and we can help to save the environment."