Luke Judge

Made to mimic a real candle, it actually costs more to buy, needs electricity to run and even looks less impressive.

It has been consigned to the dustbin of history along with electric nail files and laser-guided scissors which came second and third in a poll of gadget flops.

EXPRESS OFFER: CLAIM 15 IN FREE BETS HERE!

The top 20 also includes the bread-maker, the egg slicer and egg boiler plus the back-scratcher.

Some of historys most- trumpeted gadgets, such as the mini-disk player, fondue set and fluff removers, also made the list, which makes grim reading for some of Britains biggest manufacturers.

Bosses at the re-launched SodaStream may not be too happy to find out their drinks-maker found its way to number 15 in the survey of 3,000 people by insurers protectyourbubble.com.

Stephen Ebbett, from the website, said: In the case of the electric candle, it can be just as quick and easy to use the normal version. Some of these might seem like great ideas when you first see them but once you get them home you realise youve no use for them.

We seem to be drawn in when we see a gadget that looks as if it could make our lives easier.

Researchers discovered three in four shoppers have bought gadgets they rarely or never use. And the famous British reserve was in evidence too with under a third saying they took the unwanted purchases back to the shop.

The study also showed shoppers would spend more than 540 each on whims they would never use.

But while it was bad news also for yogurt-makers, back massagers, cocktail shakers, electric carving knives and facial tanners, hi-tech manufacturers were given a lift. The mobile phone was dubbed the best gadget ever followed closely by the iPhone and digital camera.

Mr Ebbett added: Some gadgets have become indispensable but a lot in the survey are more likely to spend their lives sitting at the back of a cupboard. Some are even left in the wrappers.

Digital Camera Memory Cards cupboard, dustbin, gadget