Nexus, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, has put thousands of items of Metro lost property under the hammer to raise money for charity.
The Metro Lost Property Auction – the first one to be held by Nexus since 2009 – took place at Park Lane Interchange in Sunderland on Thursday 19 June. There were over 4,000 items of unclaimed lost property up for grabs at bargain prices.
Some of the more unusual items going under the hammer include a pair of boxing gloves, a pogo stick, a guitar, a snooker cue, a picnic hamper, a set of bunk bed ladders, a foot spa and a fishing rod.
There were 289 items of brand new clothing, 77 CDs, 62 DVDs, 27 vinyls, 47 computer games, 29 walking sticks, four golf clubs, five tennis rackets, 76 umbrellas and four pushchairs.
The proceeds from the auction are being donated to the chosen charities of the Mayor of the City of Sunderland, Cllr Stuart Porthouse. The charities are: Age UK Sunderland, Action on Dementia Sunderland and NSPCC Childline Sunderland.
Director General of Nexus, Bernard Garner, said: “It really is amazing what passengers lose on the Metro, from the mundane everyday times, to the more weird and wonderful. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to charity, like in previous years.”
Cllr Porthouse said: “I really appreciate this fantastic gesture by Nexus. It is great to think that all the monies raised will stay in Sunderland and help support causes which are so close to both my heart and the hearts of so many people here in our city."
Previous Metro lost property auctions have included a false leg, several wigs, Barry Manilow records, a stuffed dog affectionately called "Day Rover" by Metro staff, and even a kitchen sink.
All of the mobile phones in the Metro lost property, 277 in total, did not go up for auction as they are being sent away to be recycled.