A family who have put a Cornish twist on an ancient Scandinavian technology will see their product aired on Channel 4’s Grand Designs this evening (Wednesday).

The Homeheater is a log burner made out of Cornish porcelain clay.

It works by channeling heat from the firebox though maze-like flues and releasing it slowly through the ceramic mass.

The principle was first used 7,000 years ago on the Siberian steppes where a small bale of straw would be lit under a slab of rock or clay to provide a warm bed for the night.

Guy Nott-Bower of Cornish Masonry Stoves said: ‘We are the first in the UK to make this type of masonry stove heater – the principle being similar to wood burning combined with a night storage heater. It really is ground-breaking technology.’The eco-friendly stove has been named the ‘Best Innovator for Tomorrow's Contribution to Sustainability' at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards.