SWINDON'S greenest building opened its doors to the public over the weekend.

Tours of the Heelis building, which last week scooped the Civic Trust's sustainability award at a ceremony in Blackpool, attracted dozens of interested visitors.

The building also hosted stalls to give people the chance to purchase some locally produced arts and crafts.

Visitor services manager Sally Moss said: "We ran a few tours to show people around our award-winning building.

"The tours were very popular. We had 80 people for the first two. The building is built around very sustainable features and people were keen to come and have a look.

"I think local residents have heard about the building and were interested in coming along.

"There's a lot of thought that has gone into the use of the products.

"People are really surprised when they come here and have a look around because I think from the outside the building looks a little bit austere.

"But when you come through the doors it's a real eye-opener. It's very different inside."

Members of the North Wiltshire Spinners and Weavers Guild were on hand, giving demonstrations, and members of the public could also try their hand at making pottery.

"We had a lot of kids having a go at the pottery and getting their hands dirty," Sally said.

"The arts and craft stalls also proved popular.

"This is the second time we have had stalls here, having had a Christmas fair last November.

"We are trying to build on them and make it a regular thing and, hopefully, we will double the number of stalls for the next one in November."

The Civic Trust award is the 12th prize the building has won since it opened last year.

Heelis was chosen ahead of 60 other schemes, including a visitor centre in Stornaway that is powered by a water wheel, to clinch the latest honour.

The awards acknowledge national successes in building, renovating or regenerating public and private buildings.

The Heelis building was chosen for its impeccable environmental standards.

It is a low-energy office on a brownfield site with a space in its reception for a public shop and a café.

The two-storey deep open-plan office is naturally ventilated with a myriad of chimneys and is lit by daylight.

The performance of the banks of solar panels on the roof is displayed in the entrance hall and the staff cars are restricted to car-sharers.