Leaving a mobile phone or wallet in a returned hire car is not unusual, but a Swiss Alpenhorn, ladies’ underwear and £3,000 in cash are some of the odder things Sixt Rent a Car has discovered in the last few months.

Beverley Oliver, head of UK sales at Sixt, said: “We’re constantly surprised by what we find left in our cars and vans at the end of a rental.

Wallets, bags, jewellery and loose change are all often forgotten, but it’s the strange things like furniture, musical instruments and items of a personal nature that never fail to astound us.

We make every effort to get people’s forgotten belongings back to them, but as we head into the busy summer period, we would urge customers to take the time to check their vehicles before returning them.”

Top 10 rental revelations

The Sixt Top 10 most unusual items found left behind in their hire cars and vans:

1. An envelope containing £3,000 cash left in the glove box
2. 200 bunches of flowers
3. A 6ft Swiss Alpenhorn
4. A shop mannequin
5. A 4ft iron bar
6. Trestle table and an assortment of paint tins
7. An entire set of office furniture
8. A bowling ball
9. Tarot cards
10. Ladies’ underwear