LONDON – A rubbish collector in central England could have a very good Christmas if he can solve one of the biggest jigsaw puzzles going – £10,000 worth (€11,520) of torn-up bank notes.
Graham Hill found the large bundle of cut-up £10 and £20 notes while emptying bins in Lincoln last May, according to the Lincolnshire Echo newspaper.
He handed the package to police but, after six months, no one had claimed the notes.
Furthermore, despite their best attempts, the investigators could find no evidence that the money was stolen or linked to criminal activity.
The Bank of England said it would exchange the notes for new ones if Hill could piece the money back together again.
“Providing the bank notes meet the evidence requirements, then an application for reimbursement should be successful,” a central bank spokeswoman said.
“In particular, we look at the two serial numbers on the front of the notes.”
Colleagues of Hill’s are hoping he gets to work on the cash quickly.
“I just hope he pieces enough of the notes back together to get a round of drinks in at the works Christmas do,” a co-worker was quoted as saying.
“Christmas is only around the corner, so any bonus will be welcome.” – (Reuters)