A hamster, a prosthetic legs, and a 10kg box of chicken breasts are some of the most bizarre lost property items left on Northern trains in recent months.
The rail operator said it had recorded more than 32,690 cases of lost property since July 2022, with the most common items left behind phones and laptops. However, there have been some slightly more unusual items too.
Some of the other belongings which have been left include a cupboard, crutches, an ironing board and a wig. One customer even left their bike on a train while they were still wearing a helmet, and another contacted Northern to try and track down a plain white handkerchief.
Now, Northern is appealing to customers to check they have all their personal belongings with them before leaving the train.
Alex Hornby, Northern’s commercial and customer director, said: “We understand that losing something can be extremely stressful so we often remind customers to make sure they have all of their personal belongings before leaving the train.
“Unattended bags our trains and at our stations can also prompt security alerts which cause delays and disruption. When a passenger comes forward to report lost property our staff work hard to track down that item and reunite them – but it’s no mean feat.”
For more information on what to do if you leave something on a Northern train, visit the operator’s website.