Folding bike wins design prize

Date: 16/10/2009

The designer of a folding bike has won the 2009 Prince Philip Designers Prize.

The bike, named the Brompton folding bicycle, was created by professional engineer Andrew Ritchie.

His design has taken him 21 years to complete and is now sold throughout the world.

Users of the bike are said to enjoy its portability, lightness and smoothness of ride.

David Kester, chief executive of the Design Council, said that the project was a reminder that the UK "has such great creative capabilities".

The announcement of Ritchie's win was made by the Duke of Edinburgh at a Buckingham Palace reception celebrating 50 years of British design innovations.

Transportation was not the only sector represented in the awards, with other disciplines including industry and fashion design represented.

Inventor James Dyson, the creator of the Dyson vacuum cleaner, is among the previous winners of the award.