REMEMBER phones that were the size of a household brick?

What about the car radios with a carry-handle as a rather cumbersome method to aid crime prevention - in other words removing the equipment and carrying it with you instead of leaving it in your car for thieves to steal.

How many of us have a Sinclair Spectrum or an Atari stuck in our attic somewhere - and what about cassette and video recorders or if you’re a real preserver of the past, reel-to-reel.

Younger readers won’t have a clue what I am writing about but those of us of a certain age will identify with the technology we have grown up with through the generations.

Who could forget those cumbersome car phones or earlier mobile phones lugged around like a briefcase. Another favoured communication was the CB radio - fans could easily be identified from the huge aerial attached to the vehicle roof.

Of course, at the time this was all cutting-edge stuff and a precursor to the far more advanced methods of communication which are now very much an integral part of our daily lives.

Those who are keen to keep up with the latest technology can end up accumulating gadgets which swiftly become surplus to requirements.

According to a survey of 1,007 UK adults carried out by gadgets and technology e-tailer LaptopsDirect.co.uk, the average UK household is currently hoarding £2,460 of broken technology and gadgets.

Smartphones are the most garnered gadget with 78 per cent of Brits holding on to them despite them being broken.

The survey also found 62 per cent admitting they are currently in possession of a damaged or malfunctioning laptop.

In third place for broken technology were iPads and tablets. Fifty nine per cent admitted their technology was in need of repair while 37 per cent would wait as long as six months to fix broken gadgets.

Interestingly, one in five (19 per cent) said they would rather replace their broken gadgets than have them repaired.

The survey quizzed respondents on the reasons why they delay repairing broken technology and gadgets - 44% of Brits said the high cost of repairs was the number one reason for this.

17% of UK adults will attempt to fix their broken gadgets with the help of online tutorials, while 14% will turn to a tech savvy friend in a bid to save money.

Mark Kelly, marketing manager at LaptopsDirect.co.uk, said: “It’s surprising to see the amount of broken or damaged technology and gadgets Britons continue to use or keep hold of.

“We would advise consumers to repair damages as soon as possible, if something as small as a cracked screen is left too long this can result in further damage to the device which will increase repair costs at a later date.

“Even though an item of technology may no longer work or is damaged beyond repair, some parts or components may still be of value. There are number options when it comes to recycling or selling old technology, which can be refurbished or stripped for parts. We buy and sell second hand technology from our customers while also offering discounts on new purchases.”

The data found that men own an average of £2,990 of broken technology and gadgets compared to women who own an average of £1,930.

Well there is a saying they don’t make things like they used to....!

Check out some of the bygone gadgets many of us can remember from down the decades with these photos from our archive sourced by our nostalgia writer and researcher, Odele Ayres.

For more information about the survey visit http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk.