A pair of alpacas called Ant and Dec, a Persian chinchilla cat and an urn containing a relative’s ashes were three of the most bizarre items left behind at Travelodge hotels last year.

The budget property chain revealed the unusual items customers left behind at its 571 hotels during the past 12 months.

Guests forgot expensive items such as a brand-new Aston Martin, a Tiffany engagement ring left in a pillowcase and a Chopard diamond watch; while technology such as a Vertu Touch Mobile phone, a 75-inch smart TV and a Gibson guitar were found in lost property.

Important documents such as a dissertation and the deeds to a shop were also found by Travelodge staff.

Surprisingly, some large items were also left behind: including a 6ft-high flower wall, a 5ft floral unicorn and a pair of artificial palm trees.

Perhaps the oddest items in Travelodge’s lost and found were a gallon of water from Loch Ness, a gingerbread village and a best man.

The best man was found in the Torquay Travelodge on the morning of his brother's wedding, where he had overslept and had been left behind by the wedding party.

The pair of alpacas, called Ant and Dec, were discovered at the Stratford Upon Avon Travelodge; while the Persian chinchilla cat, called Angel, was left in the hotel room when the owners drove off without it. 

“With nearly 19 million customers annually staying at our 571 across the length and breadth of the UK for thousands of different reasons, we do get a range of interesting items left behind,” said Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokesperson.  

“Interestingly our hotel teams have reported a rise in wedding and proposal props being left behind in our hotels in 2019. This included a 5ft floral unicorn, a huge full moon, a flower wall, palm trees, a Tiffany engagement ring and even a best man.”        

“When it comes to why so many of our customers forget their treasured items, it’s basically due to us all being time poor, juggling multiple tasks and being in a hurry to get from A to B. In the rush, valuable possessions are easily forgotten.” 

Last month, East Midlands airport said the most unusual item left behind in 2019 was “a husband”. 

According to a spokesperson for the airport, the man was forgotten about when a female passenger boarded the plane and settled into her seat.

It was only when the aircraft pushed back from the gate that the woman realised her husband wasn’t with her. She raised the alarm with cabin crew, and the plane returned to the stand to allow her husband to board.

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