Solar lamp and phone charger to end museum show

A SOLAR-POWERED lamp and a mobile phone charger have been chosen as the objects that most represent today's world and have gone on display at the British Museum.

A short-list of five items - including a second-hand mobile phone bought in a market in Uganda - was chosen to conclude a BBC Radio 4 series A History Of The World In 100 Objects. The series has been examining history using objects from the museum's collection as the starting point for each programme.

However, the final object had not been decided when the series began earlier this year, and listeners and various prominent figures were asked to supply their own suggestions. The other items which had been in the running were footballer Didier Drogba's Chelsea shirt, clothing used by the British Antarctic Survey, and a pestle and mortar from Bangladesh.