With a grunt and a burp, Robosapien wins toy prize

It breaks wind, burps, kicks and raps. And such skills, it appears, have won over British children, prompting them to pick a robot above board games and mind-testing puzzles as their toy of the year.

It breaks wind, burps, kicks and raps. And such skills, it appears, have won over British children, prompting them to pick a robot above board games and mind-testing puzzles as their toy of the year.

Robosapien, designed by Mark Tilden, a former Nasa scientist, was chosen over 130 other toys in the competition to find Britain's best toy for 2004.

Mr Tilden drew on his experience as a robotics physicist to design a robot for the mass market.

The end product - which also wolf whistles and grunts like a caveman - launched in the UK, priced £79.99, earlier this year and is expected to be a big hit this Christmas.

Children from 12 families from across the country, spent three months testing the robot along with board games, puzzles and electronic toys.

They gave judges in the Hamley's- sponsored competition a shortlist and the judges then selected Robosapien to win the Toy for Tomorrow category and the overall prize.