A bizarre and puzzling insight into the minds of some rental car customers has been revealed by Europcar.

The rental firm has released a list of the strangest items left behind in its cars across the UK.

An estate car returned to the Stansted branch was found to be so full of plants that it left the lost property office looking like a florist.

The Yeovil branch found a set of furry handcuffs and in Hamilton, staff were baffled at the discovery of Scottish piper’s black ostrich hat.

In Exeter, a cooked sausage was discovered in the engine bay.

One charmer returned a car to the Reading branch containing half a pint of beer and a CD titled The Art of Speed Seduction.

Other items left behind include a false leg, a wheelchair, ladies’ underwear, £1,000 of designer clothes and £300 in cash.