Weapons, mobiles worst inventions ever

Mobile phones are only slightly less irritating than bombs, according to a BBC online poll.

Weapons were listed as the worst invention ever by 35 per cent of the 4,164 respondents to the survey, which features in this month's issue of BBC's Focus magazine. Mobile phones were loathed by 17 per cent.

Nuclear power, the battery-powered vehicle the Sinclair C5 and television were tied at nine per cent, followed by cars, cigarettes, fast food, speed cameras and - rounding out the top ten with two per cent of the vote - religion.