Nearly 70 per cent of adults use household appliances which are over 10-years-old, research claims

More than a fifth say they would feel genuine loss if old appliances broke down

Four in 10 said they were still using the same oven they bought more than a decade ago (Getty Images)

Nearly seven in 10 British adults are regularly using household appliances which are at least 10 years old, according to research.

A study into the nation’s kitchens revealed many old devices were still going strong in the country's homes.

The survey of 2,000 adults found 37 per cent had a fridge that was more than a decade old, and four in 10 were still using an oven after a decade or more.

Nearly one in ten of the population also said they were still going strong with an appliance that was a quarter of a century old, or even older.

The research was conducted by the online electricals store, AO.com, whose spokesperson said: “It seems many Britons live by the old adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

“While we seem happy to chop and change certain tech in our lives – mobile phones and tablets spring to mind – in the kitchen we’re much more resistant to change.

“Even small kitchen gadgets like kettles and blenders have a much longer life span than many of the other pieces of tech we use daily.”

The study also put out a call for Britons who have maintained some of the oldest working kitchen appliances in the country.

Margaret Havercroft, 65, from East Yorkshire, who has owned her blender since 1977, said: “I bought this in 1977 in order to prepare food for my baby son who had allergies.

''This blender also has a few attachments including a burger press and a chopper.

“I am happy to say it is still going strong. Items were built to last 'back in the day'.

“I must admit that talking about this trusty yet old appliance brought some happy memories back for me and hubby.”

Jackie Andrews, 62, from Barnet, north London, who still keeps her 1976 wedding gift appliances in working order, said: “My kitchen is awash with ancient appliances: My faithful Kenwood mixer has served me well since 1976. It was a wedding present which has lasted longer than the husband.

“When I had my new kitchen installed about three years ago, I kept my built-in Siemens microwave and separate built-in oven from about 1994. Both work perfectly well so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.''

Non-electric gems included her Prestige pressure cooker, which was also a wedding present in 1976 and is used for everything from stews and risottos to jam-making.

More than one in 10 had a kettle that has been collecting limescale for 10 years or more, and the same amount said it was the kitchen gadget they would most like to replace.

However, the appliance Britons most wanted to see swapped for a new model was their oven, followed by their freezer and then the washing machine.

British adults appeared to get strangely attached to the helpful tech and machinery in the kitchen – with more than a fifth saying they would feel a genuine sense of loss if something they had owned for more than 10 years broke down.

Forty-seven per cent of respondents believed there is too much technology found in brand-new appliances and preferred to stick with the tried and tested.

Almost one in five Britons had something in their kitchen they believe is “impossible to break” which they expect to last forever.

While one in 10 have had their ancient appliances commented on by friends or family members – broadly in a positive light, praising their hardiness.

After a kitchen gadget finally does break down, the average Briton took less than five weeks to get it replaced, according to the research conducted through OnePoll.com.

SWNS