Train firms have revealed how many phone and other expensive items have wound up in the their lost and found departments across Berkshire in the last year - and almost half of all phones go unclaimed. 

South Western Railway said that more than 22,000 different items were lost on its network since September 22, 2023, including 1,750 phones and 600 earphones.

Almost 1,000 phones were returned to their owners. 

Great Western Railway said over the last three months across its network it had registered 529 phones handed-in - with just 278 returned to their owners. 

The rail company said that any phones unclaimed after three months are collected by recycling firm Ready. Set. Recycle, which then conducts data wiping and recycling.

The money generated is donated to the firm's chosen charities.

South Western Railway estimated that the value of lost devices on its network was more than £1m.

According to the firm's lost and found system, the network's Berkshire hotspot for items going missing was Ascot. 

A total of 40 items - ranging from wallets to top hats, according to the rail company - was logged at the station. 

Windsor was the station with the second highest amount of lost property, with a total of 16 items. Wokingham was third, with 13 items. 

Jerome Pacatte, Head of Stations and Revenue Protection for South Western Railway, urged passengers to register and collect any lost property.

He said: “Losing a phone or any other personal belonging during a journey can cause stress and anxiety, but our lost property team works incredibly hard to reunite customers with the hundreds of items lost on our network every week. 

“While it might feel impossible to get your lost property back, we successfully return many items to their owners, so we strongly encourage customers who have lost something to get in touch with us. 

“To end every journey on a positive note, we advise customers to take some time before reaching their destination to double-check they have everything.” 

Both Android and iPhone devices allow for users to remotely delete their data from lost or stolen devices. If your phone is lost or stolen, you can ask your network provider for your phone’s identification number - known as it IMEI - so it can be given to the police.