A WILTSHIRE housing association was left fuming after a government minister scuppered plans to unveil state-of-the-art eco-homes in Bromham.

Keith Hill, minister for housing and planning, pulled out of the official opening ceremony days before the event.

Wiltshire Rural Housing Association, based in Chippenham, was angered after being given a series of excuses by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister why Mr Hill could not attend.

They were informed a replacement would attend, before being told four days before the ceremony one could not be found.

Association director Gill Shell said: "It was an opportunity missed because they are very good houses.

"They are exactly the sort of houses that the Housing Corporation expects us to produce.

"We were given three different reasons by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as to why he could not attend so I expect none of them are right.

"It was something which had been organised since March so it was a disappointment."

In Mr Hill's absence the eight environmentally-friendly homes were officially opened by Steve Wilcox, professor at the centre for housing policy at the University of York. He presented each resident with a basket of vegetables because of Bromham's history as a market town.

The homes are built from organic materials, including reclaimed bricks and recycled blocks, with energy-saving features such as heavy insulation and solar panels.

Plans are in place for eco-homes to be built in other villages, including Codford.