Brad PittBrad Pitt's eco houses in New OrleansBrad Pitt's getting his hands dirty.

Yes, it's true. These houses have indeed been built by the A-list actor.

The colourful pads are for residents of New Orleans who lost their homes in 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

Brad, who owns a house in the disaster-hit city himself, set up a foundation called Make It Right to help those who lost their houses.

Many of those affected by the hurricane were among the city's poorest inhabitants.

Brad commissioned 13 architecture firms to design 150 affordable, green houses for residents of the Lower Ninth Ward area.

The cheerful houses have now been built and are ready for occupation.

Handsome and with a heart of gold? Now that's our kind of guy.

Brad's generosity is made all the more stark by the fact that he and his partner Angelina Jolie have been hit by the collapse of Dubai's economy.

Brad and Angelina are among many big names who own luxury villas in the Middle Eastern country, where property prices are now said to have plummeted.

And they aren't the only stars DOING THEIR BIT FOR CHARITY...