A method of forming a composite panel or board includes the step of adding phyllosilicate clay to a thermosetting resin and natural fibres. The natural fibres include hardwood fibre, softwood fibre, grain straw, hemp fibre, kenaf fibre, bagasse fibre, palm fibre, canola straw fibre, flax straw fibre, rapeseed straw fibre, wheat straw fibre, oat straw fibre, barley straw fibre, rice straw fibre or rye straw fibre. The thermosetting resin may include phenol formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, melamine urea formaldehyde, or methylenediphenyl diisocynanate. The phyllosilicate clay may include nanoparticulate clay and may include natural, modified or synthetic forms of sodium montmorillonite, montmorillonite, nontronite, beidellite, volkonskoite, laponite, hectorite, saponite, sauconite, magadite, kenyaite, stevensite, vermiculite, halloysite, or hydrotactite.