BEING described as looking like a dustbin by the future king has not held a £4.5 million lecture theatre back.

The Ivor Crewe lecture hall at Essex University has scooped a second major design award in a matter of months.

Just a few weeks after being awarded a Civic Award for Design the major building, at the university's Wivenhoe campus, has been named as one of the regional winners at the Royal Institute of British Architects awards for the east.

It is one of eight schemes in the east which have been announced as winners following a visit by the awards jury at the beginning of April.

Louise Todd, regional director for RIBA East, said: "These schemes demonstrate high quality architecture and innovative design approaches with both new and historic buildings.

"The RIBA Awards reward the best of our architecture in the region and recognise the design expertise of our members."