Oxford Bus Company has revealed the unusual items which were left on its services by passengers last year.
Among the belongings left on buses and coaches in 2022 were a Mary Poppins flamingo umbrella, Voldemort’s wand, a Trombone and a witch’s broom.
The most common items left on vehicles were mobile phones, umbrellas and shopping.
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Staff at the Oxford Bus Company customer services department recorded 2898 items lost in 2022, and 508 items were successfully returned to their owners.
The company was the first bus operator in the UK to use new technology to make it easier for passengers to be reunited with their lost belongings.
In 2019 it linked up with the innovative NotLost platform so it can digitally log misplaced items quickly, with the system helping to match them to the rightful owner.
Passengers who reclaim items pay a £1 administration and storage fee for the return of their belongings to help towards costs.
There is also a postal service option available for returns.
Unrecovered items are donated to local charities, or safely disposed of after a set period.
Andy Morison, head of customer experience at Oxford Bus Company, said: “A lot of items are left on our buses and coaches and we highlight the unusual ones to remind people that lost things are kept, so it’s worth checking with us if you lose something on our services, as we may well be able to assist.
“Misplacing a personal item can be a stressful experience and so we use technology to help make it easier for people to get their belongings back. We’re proud of our record at managing lost property and work hard to help reunite items with their owners.”
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The NotLost platform combines various features including image recognition and powerful search functionality with a simple, intuitive interface, transforming the way lost property is managed.
Oxford Bus Company has previously revealed lost items in recent years which have included a light saber, a fireman’s hat, a Soviet Union hat, a letter detailing sexual fantasies, a Donald Trump toilet roll and Ann Summers lingerie.
The 2022 top 10 lost items were:
Mary Poppins flamingo umbrella
Voldemort’s wand
Trombone
Witch’s broom
Sombrero
Wet floor sign
Bar stool
Skis
Guitar
Crutches.
Oxford Bus Company provides bus routes in Oxford city and Abingdon, luxury coach services to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, the BROOKESBus service, in partnership with Oxford Brookes University, and the prestigious park&ride service.
It also runs City Sightseeing Oxford, the hop-on, the hop-off open topped bus tours of Oxford.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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