OWNERS of eco homes in West Dorset are throwing open their doors for the annual Heritage Week extravaganza in September.

Visitors will be able to stop off at 12 properties in Bridport along with six in Dorchester and one in Weymouth.

The aim is to show how homes can be more comfortable, cheaper to run, and greener at the same time.

Different kinds of home are involved, from newly built, specially designed eco homes, to historic properties that have been adapted to save energy and resources without harming their architectural features or the neighbourhood.

It is the first time that the event has been run in Bridport after a successful event last year in Dorchester.

Sally Cooke, one of the organisers, said: “We really appreciate the householders who are giving their time to share their enthusiasm about greening their homes, and we’re excited about the variety that will be open again this year.”

The eco-homes event is organised by community volunteers from Transition Town Bridport (TTB) and the Greendor project, which developed from Transition Town Dorchester’s energy group.

The event is sponsored by Big Lottery funding.

The homes will be open on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15. Visits are free but most will need to be booked in advance.

Materials on show at different homes include walls made of rammed chalk, a straw bale building and a timber-framed kit house.

There are different renewable energy installations, and a variety of approaches to insulation, as well as reuse and recycling of building materials.

Information about the eco homes can be found on the TTB website at transitiontownbridport.co.uk, the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week booklet and an open Ecohomes brochure available from tourist information centres, Bridport Arts Centre, the library and council offices.