Cladding system

A panel for use in cladding a wall and comprising:

• a rigid base member having first and second opposed surfaces and first and second opposed edge regions, with a step provided in each of the surfaces so that in situ the panel can overlap with identical neighbouring panels to form a substantially uniform and planar base sheet, the step in the second surface having a recess provided therein for receiving a shaped edge region of a first neighbouring panel in situ, said first edge region of the base member being shaped to be received by a recess of a second neighbouring panel in situ;
• and
• one or more facing members secured to one of the first and second surfaces,
• the base member being dimensioned so that in situ said second edge region abuts the step in the first surface of said first neighbouring panel resulting in a loose fit arising between said recess and the received shaped edge region of the first neighbouring panel.

A method of cladding a solid wall using a multiplicity of panels according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising:

• securing a first panel directly to the wall:
• securing a second panel directly to the wall in overlapping relationship with said first panel;
• and
• securing each further panel directly to the wall in sequence and in overlapping relationship with the preceding panel.