The invention of Jenga

It's just over 30 years since the brick game was introduced to the world at a department store in London.

Made of 54 wooden blocks stacked into a tower in rows of three by three, each player takes a turn to remove a block from the tower and place it at the top. When the tower falls, the game is over.

Surya Elango speaks to its British designer Leslie Scott about how a family game that started in her parent's home in 1970s Ghana, became an international hit.

By 1986, the game was successfully introduced into the North America market at a time when video games were taking off.

It’s now in the US National Toy Hall of Fame having sold millions worldwide. Leslie went on to create 40 other games.

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(Photo: Leslie Scott with a jenga set in 1983. Credit: Sue Macpherson ARPS.)