TFL lost property revealed… including books, bank cards and £200k worth of cash left on Tube

Londoners lost more than £200,000 in cash on the capital’s transport network over the last year, TfL has revealed.

Data published by transport bosses revealed that hundreds of thousands of items were left on public transport around the capital between April last year and March this year.

Loose change found on buses, in taxis and on Tube trains added up to a staggering £203,583.

While books, bank cards and personal documents were the most frequently lost items with 92,631 discovered by staff.

More than 50,000 items of clothing were found on the transport network alongside 46,318 bags and 12,742 sets of keys.

Forgetful travellers left more of their belongings on buses than on any other form of transport, with 54.9 per cent of lost items (182,310) discovered on them, figures show.

Some 130,775 items were picked up on the Tube.

TfL made a huge profit of £206,856 from the collection of lost items – which will be put towards the upkeep of the lost property office at Baker Street station.

The treasure trove remains jam packed with just 9.4 per cent of the 286,994 items lost being reclaimed.

If items are not picked up within three months they are disposed of, sold at auction or donated to charity, transport officials said previously.

The company made £256,754 from the sale of unclaimed items between April last year and March this year - more than £100,000 less than during the same period the previous year.

Londoners who lose their cash have 12 months to collect it or just three months if it is dropped in a black cab, a spokesman said.

Earlier this year it emerged that the transport provider made more than £2 million in three years by selling lost property left on Tubes, trains, buses and in taxis.