LOST items on Oxford Bus Company buses last year included a Zimbabwe 10 billion dollar note, a Harry Potter wand, a breast pump and a giant tent.

Staff at the bus company’s customer services department recorded 6,306 items in 2019, a huge increase of more than double the number of belongings left on its services compared to the previous year.

About one third of the items were reclaimed by passengers who paid a £1 administration and storage fee for the return of their belongings to help towards costs. Unrecovered items are donated to local charities, or safely disposed of.

One of the most bizarre items left behind was a woman's handbag with a pair of dirty men's pants inside. 

The Zimbabwe ten billion dollar note, which is no longer in circulation was not reclaimed, while a Donald Trump toilet roll was.

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Last summer the company became the first bus operator in the UK to use new technology to make it easier for passengers to be reunited with their lost belongings.

Oxford Mail:

The innovative NotLost platform enables the bus company to digitally log misplaced items quickly and the system helps match them to the rightful owner. The online tool enables customers to log a notification of a lost item and the system will suggest matches.

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Andy Morison, head of customer experience at Oxford Bus Company, said: “Highlighting the unusual items that are left on our bus network helps us to remind people that lost belongings can be reunited with their owners.

“In the past 12 months we have experienced a significant increase in the number of items left on our bus network.

Oxford Mail:

"Unfortunately, a lot of things do get left behind and we always hold them for a fixed period.

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"Mobile phones and bags are the most common items left on buses, but we do collect quite a few unusual items as well.”

Unusual items included:

•Ten billion dollar note - unclaimed

•Scary nun Halloween costume - claimed

•Toilet roll with Donald Trump’s face - claimed

•Civil Enforcement Officer hat - unclaimed

•Breast pump - claimed

•Harry Potter magic wand - claimed

•Ukulele - claimed

•A woman’s handbag with a pair of dirty male pants inside - unclaimed

•Giant tent - claimed

•Strong prescription drugs - claimed.