FLEET decision-makers are being urged to check carefully what drivers leave in their returned rental cars to cut down on cleaning costs and, in many cases, avoid red faces.

In the past year, a variety of unusual items have been left in vehicles returned to National Car Rental's 138 branches across the UK, ranging from knickers to handcuffs. Other items includes a shop mannequin, complete with stockings, a surfboard, portable toilet, handcuffs, a set of false teeth, a pacemaker and some police helmets. NCR also listed some of the more unusual demands from drivers. These included a 4x4 vehicle with snow chains, a hearse, double-decker bus and 'a flash car to help sell a home'.