In the famous nursery rhyme, one of the three little pigs is derided for building his house from straw – presenting the big bad wolf with an easy meal.

But maybe the pig was on to something, as the first straw houses to be offered on the open market go on sale. The team behind the project insist that straw houses could help to meet housing demand in the UK sustainably – and are safe from huffing and puffing.

The homes are the result of an engineering research project led by the University of Bath and specialist architectural firm Modcell. The seven houses, on a street of traditional brick-built homes in Shirehampton, Bristol, are clad in brick to fit in with the surroundings.

Old bones set to be unearthed

Remains of a former lord mayor of London as well as those of a notorious criminal and political activists could be unearthed when excavation of an infamous burial ground is undertaken by the cross-London Crossrail project.

Crossrail-led research has identified the names and backgrounds of more than 5,000 people buried at the old Bedlam site at Liverpool Street in London.

Names include Sir Ambrose Nicholas, who was lord mayor of London in 1575, and Dr John Lamb (also known as Lam or Lambe), an astrologer and advisor to the First Duke of Buckingham. Lamb was said to have been stoned to death by an angry mob outside a theatre in 1628 following allegations of rape and black magic.

Romantic side of Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst may be best known for work featuring dead animals but the artist has shown his romantic side for his latest exhibition.

The 49-year-old has created a new collection of original prints and sculptures in time for Valentine’s Day including Love Struck, a pig’s heart pierced by a crossbow bolt suspended in a sweet jar.

The work, which has a starting price of £12,000, is part of Hirst’s Love exhibition at Paul Stolper Gallery in Holborn, central London. It includes two love heart-shaped sculptures, entitled LOVE YU 4 EVA and a series of 14 prints, each featuring a butterfly inside a love heart.

Drone proposal for actress

Zhang Ziyi, who gained international fame for her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, has accepted a marriage proposal delivered by drone.

The Chinese actress was celebrating her 36th birthday when a white drone flew towards her at the party. Her boyfriend Wang Feng, a Chinese rock singer and composer, retrieved an engagement ring from inside the drone and then got down on one knee and popped the question.

Baby surprise for Florida woman

A Florida woman who had a 14.1lb baby has revealed she did not know she was pregnant until her third trimester.

Maxxzandra Ford had her son, Avery, just over a week ago, according to officials at St Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa. They said the baby is the heaviest born at the hospital, and one of the largest-ever born in the state.

The baby’s mother said that after rapidly gaining weight last autumn, doctors confirmed she was 35 weeks into her pregnancy. She said she initially thought she was having twins.

Horse stuck in bath tub feet up

Firefighters in northern California have rescued a horse that got stuck in an outdoor bath.

The horse was dancing around in its stall to protect the bath tub used as its food trough when it suddenly fell in, according to Sacramento metropolitan fire district captain Michelle Eidam.

The horse, named Phantom, was stuck in the bath tub for about 25 minutes with her feet up in the air. Its owner saw the horse fall and called the fire department.

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