855,000 handsets down the loo

Total Telecom, getting into silly season mood, sent me this frivolous gem:

A new phone you can really dig
If you don't fancy the latest in mobile Web surfing technology this Christmas, or if you're exceptionally clumsy, there is an alternative.
JCB, famed makers of 10-tonne diggers used the world over, have brought out a ruggedised branded handset, presumably for big boys who love Tonka toys.
What's more, rather than a big boring list of technical specifications, such as whether or not it's 3G and how many megapixels the camera has, the JCB phone sells along different lines, like the fact that it's waterproof, dustproof and shockproof.
Although it might also have something to do with the fact that it's 2G, and doesn't have a camera.
Aptly called the Toughphone, it comes in a yellow and black design, and as well as being available from traditional outlets, it will also be sold in equipment hire shops from February 2008.
Its sturdy design is bound to appeal to U.K. consumers: without going into too much detail, Brits drop 855,000 handsets down the toilet every year, generating a whopping £342 million in insurance and replacement costs.

That's one every 36 seconds!