CAB Business Solutions

When Dorset taxi driver Trevor Hamilton was told a tatty shopping bag had been left in the back of his cab, he assumed it was rubbish.

But when he peered inside, he found £9,000 in cash which had been left by an elderly male passenger.

The loss had already been reported to staff at the taxi firm and they were able to return the cash to the owner.

The customer said he had "written off" the money and gave Mr Hamilton a £200 tip for his honesty.

  We find ladies' cardigans, occasionally cameras, and mobile phones quite a lot, but nothing like this

Derek Heritage, taxi firm boss

Barbara MacKenzie, administrator at United Taxis in Bournemouth, said: "He had actually written off this money.

"I wouldn't even put £10 in a carrier bag."

The man was believed to have withdrawn the cash, picked up the taxi at a rank in Boscombe and was then dropped off at home in nearby Southbourne.

Another regular passenger told Mr Hamilton about the carrier bag later that day.

"They were going to throw it out because they thought it was meat or veg but there was about £9,000 in there," added Miss MacKenzie.

Derek Heritage, a director at the taxi firm, said: "We find ladies' cardigans, occasionally cameras, and mobile phones quite a lot, but nothing like this.

"It's unusual for anyone to carry that amount of cash in a supermarket bag.

"£9,000 is a lot to carry with you but just to leave it in the back of a taxi and then to get it back is pretty strange."

Mr Hamilton was described by his boss as "very quiet and reserved".