Build drones to bring me packages, commands Boris

“I want my own personal drone to come and drop it wherever I choose”: Boris Johnson issued challenge to technology on trip to Singapore

Boris Johnson's speech at the Conservative Party conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has issued a challenge to technology to build drones to deliver packages and solve London’s congestion problems.

The increase in internet shopping is going to lead to more deliveries, and will end up clogging London’s roads, Johnson said. He proposed building personal drones to deliver shopping instead.

"We have a problem, folks - all this internet shopping is leading to a massive increase in white van traffic dropping this stuff off - 45% it's going to go up on London in the next seven years.”

Johnson challenged his audience — at a tech launch event in Singapore, where he is as part of a six-day tour of the Far East — to solve the problem.

"We need a solution... Is it, as I hope, going to be drones? I want to be controlling an app that enables my shopping not only to be click and collect... I want my own personal drone to come and drop it wherever I choose."

The Singapore event saw a launch for Startupbootcamp, a London "accelerator" which offers mentoring and advice to new companies.

The Asia accelerator is aimed at building links between London and Singapore.

Additional reporting by PA