A revolutionary new way to dry our hands is set to be launched this month with a new device known as the Airblade - a high-speed dryer for public toilets - being launched in the UK.

Officially unveiled yesterday in Swindon's Hilton Hotel, the dryer, invented by James Dyson has been tested in its toilets for the last nine months, and has been a big success.

"We didn't know who they were made by until Mr Dyson called us to let us know," said duty manager Jason Davies, "But they have been really popular."

The dryer pumps out room temperature air at 400 mph through a 0.3 millimetre slot, relying on the air pressure rather than heat to dry the user's hands.

And, it uses up to 83 per cent less energy than conventional hand dryers.

"We would like to replace all the hand dryers in every public building from now onward because they are so slow - and there is a health questionmark over them," said, Mr Dyson, who is now aged 59.

"People want their hands dry quickly, they don't want to hang around.

"They want to get them dry and not wipe them on their trousers.

"And we want to save energy."