A new style of coffin has been so successful with environmentally-aware people production has doubled in a year.

Ecopod, the eco-friendly coffin designed in Brighton by Hazel Selina, is not only biodegradable but also a work of art.

The coffin is made from recycled newspaper, compressed to give it strength. Designed with the 21st Century in mind while looking back at burial in ancient Egypt, it is shaped like a seed pod to symbolise new life.

Hazel said: "The idea came to me about nine years ago.

I thought there had to be something better for burials than the traditional and environmentally-unfriendly chipboard coffins.

"Apart from the waste of trees, lots of different chemicals are involved in the process of making the board and it all goes back into the atmosphere at a cremation or, over a longer period, in a burial.

"I wanted a coffin to represent the life of the person and the funeral to be a celebration of that life."

Each of the ecopods is different. The standard colours are green, red, blue, white and gold, while the inside can be lined with silk or feathers.

Hazel said: "Some people choose the white so friends and family can write messages or draw pictures on it. The result can be a tribute and reflect different cultures and beliefs."

Apart from being extremely strong and light, the pods are practically shaped and easy to transport. Prices are comparable to traditional coffins.

Hazel carried out market research and the response from the public, funeral directors, cemeteries and families was very encouraging.

Stephen Horlocks, the bereavement services manager for Brighton and Hove City Council, said the new style coffin was very practical: "We particularly welcome the ecopod's use in the Woodland Burial Ground in Brighton."

www.ecopod.co.uk