RESEARCH by a legal services company has revealed some of the unlikely hiding places North-East and North Yorkshire folk choose to store their valuables.

Family jewels have been submerged in a pond, tucked behind a mirror or inside a hollowed out table leg, according to the Saga survey.

The research conducted by Saga Legal Services found a fifth of people in the North-East and Yorkshire hide items in a locked drawer, while 12 per cent seclude items in everyday objects such as biscuit tins or books.

However, the legal service provider described as "worrying" the revelation that more than a fifth (22 per cent) hide their valuables in plain sight.

The highest proportion of respondents (46 per cent) said they keep their valuables in a safe, while 'the back of the wardrobe' (22 per cent) was also a popular answer.

Eleven per cent of respondents confessed to keeping valuables in the loft or in an underwear drawer, with seven per cent saying items were hidden under mattresses, floorboards and in kitchen cupboards.

Emma Myers, head of wills, probate and lifetime planning for Saga Legal Services, said: “It's easy to assume our valuables will automatically pass to who we want when we die, but this isn't always the case if items are hidden.

"When we do store something in a 'safe place', this can make it more difficult for loved ones to find which is why it is vital that we inform our friends and family where they are stored to avoid them being given away or lost.

"Our treasure map is a handy tool for people to list and value their items, helping to ensure nothing goes missing."

The company has produced a guide, Chatting About Chattels, which sets out the risks of not listing important valuables and documents.

For more information or to download a free copy of the guide, visit saga.co.uk/legal