KEEPING abreast of piles of lost underwear has prompted an Ipswich bar to appoint it's very own bra maid.It may beggar belief that Bra-nnigans needs to appoint staff especially to handle the burgeoning piles of lingerie left after a busy night, but over the last few months 17 bras have been found in the Ipswich bar alone.

KEEPING abreast of piles of lost underwear has prompted an Ipswich bar to appoint it's very own bra maid.

It may beggar belief that Bra-nnigans needs to appoint staff especially to handle the burgeoning piles of lingerie left after a busy night, but over the last few months 17 bras have been found in the Ipswich bar alone.

After a night of eating, dancing and cavorting it is easy to see how you can lose your head, but to lose a bra takes a little more imagination.

Never-the-less bras top the list of unusual items left at Brannigans bars nationally, with 124 being recovered since the start of the year, closely followed by garters, false nails and chest wigs.

The new bra maid will be part of a move by the national chain to return items of lost property to their owners.

Stuart Gillette, Manager of Brannigans at Ipswich's Cardinal Park, said: "We have collected 17 bras that have been left in the bar over the last few months. Most are left in the pub on Friday and Saturday nights. Our customers come here to have a good laugh, to meet up with friends and to eye up the local talent. We are popular with stag, hen and office parties in particular, which may explain why the lost property box is full of strange items.

"On a hen night women are keen to go home with a bloke's boxer shorts as some kind of trophy. The men have cottoned on to this and ask for a bra or a pair of knickers in return. After a few drinks the items are forgotten about and discarded."

So a staff member has been nominated by to become the first bra maid to organise the safe return of garments to revellers. Those that go unclaimed by DD-Day on August 3 will go to an auction in aid of breast cancer.

Mr Gillette added: "We're just giving our customers the chance to reclaim what is rightfully theirs – no questions asked! People may be embarrassed the morning after but they are more than welcome to come and collect them. There is a variety of shapes and sizes."

It may not just be women that are careless with such undergarments. Men often dress up as women on stag nights with tissue paper stuffed down a bra to give them a comedy bosom. After a few drinks and a dance the costume's novelty soon wears off and the offending item may be dumped in a corner or down the side of a seat.

Brannigans Support Squad have set up a lost property helpline on 01772 421 442 which will take calls after 6pm until August 3.

Panel – Top ten most frequently found items:

1 Bras

2 Cigarette lighters

3 Mobile Phones

4 False nails

5 Garters

6 Disposable cameras

7 L plates

8 Umbrellas

9 Chest wigs

10 Keys

Other unusual items found: knickers, a plaster cast, a glass eye and a bag of shopping.