Curiosities of the Baker Street lost property office.

A 14ft inflatable boat, a coffin, false limbs and a lawn mower are just some of the items left on public transport, it was revealed yesterday.

Breast implants, a jar of bull's sperm and three dead bats in a container, have also turned up at Transport for London's lost property office at Baker Street in the capital.

In the last year almost 150,000 items of property have been left on Tubes, buses and taxis, with mobile phones and books among the most-mislaid articles. While items lost have included two human skulls in a bag, a divan bed and three Second World War gas masks, more common articles include bags, umbrellas, wallets, passports, teddy bears and wedding rings.

Recently, pounds 25,000 worth of Rolex watches were found on a bus and have since been claimed. The Baker Street office also took possession of a pounds 2,000 plasma TV which had been left in the back of a taxi.

Other strange items that have been handed in include a home vasectomy kit and an urn of ashes.

The Baker Street premises keeps some items on display, including six African masks, a variety of sex toys and two human skulls, as well as the Second World War gas masks.

Last year, more than 22,000 items of clothing were handed in, varying from single gloves, scarves and hats, to coats, wedding dresses and even a full judge's regalia.

Property not claimed after three months is sold at auction, with all proceeds going towards running costs of the lost property office.

One in two items of value are successfully returned to owners while the return rate for other items is one in three for bags, one in four for mobile phones and one in five for books.

The overall return rate for all items is about one in 12. Transport for London made clear that although some unclaimed common items were on display in the windows at the Baker Street office, there was no public display of unusual objects.

Some of the false teeth left on public transport in London in the last year. Almost 150,000 items of property have been left on Tubes, buses and taxis, including a jar of bull's sperm.