Millions of Britons do not know world wide web, colour television and jet engine are British inventions

Only a third have heard of Ada Lovelace, the inventor of the computer algorithm, according to poll

Less than half of those surveyed knew Frank Whittle from Coventry made the very first jet engine in 1928 (Getty iStock)

Millions of Britons do not know the internet, the colour television and jet engine are British inventions, a survey has claimed.

Around half of 2,000 adults polled were not aware that London based Sir Tim Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web in 1989.

Fifty-five per cent did not realise John Logie Baird, of Dunbartonshire, was the first person to demonstrate a working colour television in 1928.

And 51 per cent did not know Frank Whittle from Coventry made the very first jet engine having patented the invention in 1928.

“For the last 50 years the award has celebrated ground-breaking engineering innovations that have established the UK as a global leader," said Dr Dame Sue Ion DBE, chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

It commissioned the poll ahead of announcing the finalists for its prestigious MacRobert Award for engineering innovation in June.

Dr Ion added: “Leading the judges for the MacRobert Award over the past five years I have been privileged to see at first hand the engineering behind products that are changing our lives for the better. The incredible work being undertaken around the country right now will help to generate jobs and growth in the future.”

Only a third of those polled had heard of Ada Lovelace, of London, the inventor of the computer algorithm and only 12 per cent were familiar with the person responsible for the world’s first programmable computer, Tommy Flowers MBE, from London.

A total of 79 per cent of those polled did not know the world’s first commercially available bionic hand was developed in the UK by Touch Bionics of Livingston, which won the MacRobert Award in 2008.

But 88 per cent said they are proud of Britain's engineering achievements to date. And 90 per cent said they think engineering is important to the UK economy.

Dr Dame Sue Ion DBE added: “The UK has a rich engineering heritage and this poll suggests that people want to hear more about modern engineering developments.

“It is very encouraging to see that the public is positive about what the future holds for UK engineering and its importance to our economy. Celebrating current engineering excellence is crucial if the sector is to receive the support it needs and to inspire the next generation of engineers.”

Last year, Cambridge-based Owlstone Medical won the award for its ReCIVA Breath Sampler which can detect signs of cancer and other diseases in their infancy.

SWNS