THE lost and found offices of Carlisle’s three Travelodges have been inundated with random artefacts left behind by guests.

Where else would you find a £5,000 worth of camera equipment, a wall art tapestry featuring wedding vows made 40 years ago, a pet Scottish terrier called Braveheart, a message in a bottle and a portable cactus garden?

The UK’s first budget hotel chain has revealed some of the interesting items left behind in its 582 hotels during the last 12 months. With millions of people annually staying in Travelodges across the country, detailed below are some of the other unusual treasures that have been left behind at the company’s Carlisle hotels:

• An engagement ring

• A framed 100-year map of the Scottish Highlands

• A red wallet which contained £5,000 worth of Yen

• A trunk full of different walking sticks

• A Christmas village made of gingerbread

With the Staycation being a top holiday choice in 2021, Travelodge hotel staff have reported a significant rise in items being left behind in their hotels over the last 12 months.

Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge Spokeswoman said: “In 2021, following Freedom Day, we welcomed back millions of customers to our 582 UK Travelodge hotels including our hotels in Carlisle, and we saw a significant increase in bookings. This has led to a range of interesting items being left behind by our customers across our UK hotels. This year’s Lost & Found audit includes a rise in holiday themed items, wedding props, precious sentimental items, smart gadgets and beloved pets. This includes a DJI Phantom 4 Drone, a Pomsky called Beyoncé, a 5ft wedding cake piñata, a GT V8 Bentley convertible car and even Cinderella’s shoe.

“When it comes to why so many of our customers forget their treasured items, it’s basically due to us all being time poor, juggling multiple tasks and being in a hurry to get from A to B. In the rush, valuable possessions are easily forgotten.”

All items left behind in Travelodge hotels which have not been claimed within three months are donated to the local British Heart Foundation Charity Shops, Travelodge’s nominated charity partner.