Britain risks running out of the material needed to make pacemakers and hearing aids, as they're trapped in tens of millions of unused gadgets 'stockpiled' in cupboards and drawers across the country.

Rare elements such as tantalum, which helps power pacemakers, and yttrium, which can treat some cancers, are used to make smartphones, and are mined in countries including Australia, China and Brazil.

Mindy Dulai, the senior policy advisor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, warned that a number of them were "finite", and could run out within the next 100 years.

"We mine them and as they sit in our phones and devices, if we lock them away in cupboards and attics then unfortunately we can't get back those precious elements," she told the Today programme.

Other rare elements used in gadgets include indium, which is also needed for fire sprinkler systems, and silver, which makes antibacterial clothing.

In a survey of more than 2,300 people for the Royal Society of Chemistry, 51pc of households said they were holding on to at least one unused electronic device, whilst 45pc said they had between two and five old gadgets in their drawers and cupboards.

Most people said the reason they were keeping their old smart TVs, e-readers and phones was in case they needed a spare. Around 80pc said they had no plans to recycle or sell on the devices once they stopped using them.