Inflatable dinosaur costume and bag of rubber ducks among wacky items left on buses

An inflatable dinosaur costume, a box of fortune cookies and a bag of rubber ducks were among the unusual items left on Oxford’s buses last year.

Staff at Oxford Bus Company’s customer services department recorded 4,387 items were misplaced, with almost a quarter (23 per cent) of the 1,013 items reunited with their owners. 

Among the other eyebrow-raising items left on Oxford Bus Company’s vehicles in 2025 included a baby bonsai tree, a potato with googly eyes and a 10kg bag of rice. Passengers also left behind a yoga mat with inspirational quotes, a jar of pickled onions, a bicycle tyre and several toy Nerf guns.

Andy Morison, Head of Digital & Customer Experience at Oxford Bus Company, said: “Each week, scores of items are left on our buses and coaches.

“Essentials such as keys, mobile phones, umbrellas, purses and wallets are among the most common items, but there are also several unexpected ones too.

“Misplacing a personal item can be a stressful experience, so we use technology to help make it easier for people to get their belongings back.

“We use the end of the year to highlight the unconventional ones and remind people that we keep lost items.

“Regardless of what people forget to pick up, all lost items are stored by our team and can be collected either in-person or delivered by post.

“We encourage people who misplace their items to use our NotLost service via the website which has helped us effectively manage lost property and minimise stress to affected passengers.”

In 2019, Oxford Bus Company became the first UK bus operator to use new technology to make it easier for passengers to be reunited with their lost belongings, when it partnered with the NotLost platform.

Misplaced items can be digitally logged quickly, with the system helping to match them to the rightful owner. The platform combines various features including image recognition and powerful search functionality with a simple interface.

Passengers who reclaim items pay a £1 administration and storage fee for the return of their belongings to help cover costs, with a postal return option also available. Unrecovered items are donated to local charities or safely disposed of after a set period.

Previous items left behind on buses have included a bar stool, a Donald Trump toilet roll, a guitar, skis, a wet floor sign and a letter detailing unusual fantasies.

Last year, a suitcase full of retro adult magazines, a jar of raw chicken, and a snooker cue were among the bizarre items left on buses by passengers.