Some extremely unusual items have been left on South Western Railway trains.

In just the first six weeks of operations, South Western Railway has amassed thousands of lost property items, including a barrister’s wig, an ironing board and a giant inflatable shark.

A spokesman said that as much as the rail operator enjoys sorting through the strange objects and keeping them in their custody, they are reminding people to check they have gathered up all their possessions before leaving their train.

Michael Pugh, customer experience manager at Waterloo station, said: “Our staff from across the network work hard to ensure passengers are reunited with their belongings. However, we would encourage everyone to check they have their belongings before they leave our trains. Keys, phones and wallets are always such a pain to lose but it’s the sentimental items that really cause problems for passengers.”

Other strange items which have been found by the operator include a leather lounge chair, a pirate flag, complete with pole, a pair of false teeth and giant prize bananas, pandas and doughnuts from a theme park.

More common items of lost property left on trains include:

  • Umbrellas
  • Coats
  • Wallets and purses
  • Keys
  • Railcards
  • Specs
  • Phones, laptops, and other gadgets
  • Shopping bags and luggage
  • Drinks bottles

Objects found on South Western Railway stations, including items left on other train companies’ services, are sent to an office at London Waterloo.

If you wish to register a lost item you can visit www.southwesternrailway.com or call the Lost Property Office, open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 7pm, on 020 7401 7861