WALES' first minister this week officially opened a Monmouthshire primary school said to be Britain's greenest.

Carwyn Jones visited the new Rogiet Primary School on Thursday, which won the prize for the UK's best sustainable school building at the Building Research Environmental Assessment Method Awards earlier this year.

A plaque commemorating the opening was unveiled by pupils, who concluded the ceremony with a balloon launch.

The school's credentials include insulation made from recycled newspapers and a wind turbine that contributes up to 18 per cent of the school's electricity, while the building itself is made from sustainable sourced timber.

Mr Jones said: "Built to the highest environmental standards, which is demonstrated by the BREEAM ‘excellent’ standard, this is a school provides a sustainable environment which is conducive to learning and most definitely a school which the governors, teachers and parents and children can be very proud of."