Strange items on sale at auction

A kitchen sink and a false leg have been auctioned in the past

A paddling pool, a garden spade and a bag of seeds are just some of the items on offer at a lost property auction.

Hundreds of belongings left on the Tyne and Wear Metro system will go under the hammer at South Shields Market Place on Wednesday morning.

Other items up for sale include 72 mobile phones, 45 books, 22 scarves and five MP3 players.

The auction is staged every year to raise money for mayors' charities in the area.

In previous years bidders have snapped up bizarre objects such as a false leg, a kitchen sink and a stuffed dog, nicknamed "Metro Rover".

Andy Bairstow, of operator Nexus, said: "The poor weather we've had has made it hard to get out in the garden, but Metro staff were still stunned to find someone had left their spade and a paddling pool behind."

Councillor Tracey Dixon, the Mayor of South Tyneside, is auctioning the first few lots to the public.