Customers can be very creative but sometimes the events are so far fetched they must be true – as in the case of a lady phoning in Birmingham for replacement keys after a "magpie swooped down and stole them off the car roof." Luckily Alamo staff went the extra mile - and delivered the lady some new keys.

Strangest reasons for damage:
• A customer in Bristol said: "I hit a cow crossing the road."
• "I didn’t see the wall until I’d reversed into it," offered a customer in Oxford.
• "A pheasant came out of nowhere and got stuck in the grill" was the reason given by another customer in Edinburgh .
• "I just woke up one morning and it was there" was the explanation given by a man in Newcastle who returned a car with caved in wings, doors and wheel arch.

Unusual Reasons for returning a car late:
• "I was running late for the plane."
• One customer got lost for 6 hours driving around Leeds - she called the branch in tears several times and eventually a member of staff went out to collect her.
• "I didn’t realise it had to be back."

Surprising items left in the car:
• False teeth • Black leather whip • A false leg • A cat in the engine • G-string in the sun visor • Wedding dress.