Renovations at a seafront hotel revealed that safes can protect valuables from even their owners.
When workers at Dukes pulled away a panel in one of the rooms, they found a shower unit and, behind that, a secure door.
They prized it open – hoping to strike gold – and found this pair of long-lost identity cards belonging to Hans-Jürgen Ibe and Karin Sörje, which seem to date back to the 1970s.
The German couple may not have got far without their documents - but never returned to the hotel, then the Duke of Marlborough, to collect them.
Owner Jo Seward said: “It’s such an old building, there could be all sorts hidden in the walls.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here