Girls urged to put Barbie back in box and try Lego

Barbie should be put back in her box to make way for more “creative” toys such as Lego and Meccano that are traditionally given to boys, according to one of Britain’s top women scientists.

Athene Donald, Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge University, believes the wrong toys are holding back girls who might otherwise go on to develop an interest in science and engineering.

She also attacked schools for taking the “lazy” option of finding work experience placements for pupils that reinforce gender stereotypes.