Yahoo News Sale of Metro lost property including jewellery and new clothes to take place this weekend
It can be easy to lose track of an umbrella or a pair of sunglasses when you are out and about, although you might think that a walking stick - and certainly a giant Santa decoration - might be more quickly missed.
All these and more are among a range of items which have been lost by passengers on Tyne and Wear Metro and bus services over the past two years. And now they are being put up for sale this weekend to raise money for charity.
Transport operator Nexus is arranging a sale of lost property this Sunday, June 30 and alongside eyebrow-raising items such as that giant Santa will be the likes of new clothing - still with tags on - and a range of footwear from football boots to slippers. Other items among the Nexus finds include headphones, sunglasses and jewellery such as rings, bracelets, costume pieces and watches.
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The collection will go on sale at Tynemouth Market on Sunday where the Nexus lost property stand will feature among the usual spread of stalls and it will offer hundreds of items, including possessions lost on the Shields Ferry.
This is not the first time that the operator has sold off items left on its services. It will hold on to lost property for six months but if it remains unsold then the next step is a sale or auction and these have previously raised thousands of pounds for local charities.
This time, all proceeds made on the day will be donated to its chosen charity of the year which is Bryson’s Animal Shelter in Gateshead. There, the money raised will be used to buy essentials such as dog and cat food and cleaning supplies and to cover vet bills.
Lynne Robinson, public affairs manager at Nexus, said: "We’ve had a lot of success in previous years with our lost property auctions and sales. We have a weird and wonderful mix of items to sell and we usually get lots of interest.
"It’s great to think that the unclaimed lost property can be put to such good use and the funds raised will be welcomed by Bryson’s who have been doing great work in the North East for years." Nexus employees will nominate and vote upon a charity to support each year and their fundraising activities include the likes of charity walks, raffles, cake sales, coffee mornings and a sky dive.
Last year almost £10,000 was raised for Daft As A Brush Cancer Patient Care and previous years' beneficiaries have included Feeding Families; the Alzheimer’s Society and Great North Air Ambulance Service.
The June 30 sale will take place at Tynemouth Station market in North Tyneside from 9am until 3pm. Purchases must be by cash only and any unsold items will be recycled or donated to charity.
