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Friday, 1st August 2008 (2328 views)

Residents of Tampa Bay have come up with an original way to raise funds for public school education.

An auction has been arranged for this Saturday to sell items abandoned in safe deposit boxes in the state's banks.

Total value for the hoard collected is estimated to be worth $500,000 (£253,303).

Among the items there are gold earrings, an Australian gold coin collection and a Rolex watch.

For 2008, the sum total of all the abandoned bank accounts and deposit boxes in the state reached $312 million.

According to Jerri Franz - a spokesman for Florida's chief financial officer - said the owners of the majority of the objects have either left the state or have died.

The idea to auction off the goods for schools has been occurring since 1961 and has so far raised over $1.7 billion.

Visitors to Tampa Bay this weekend can also take a look at the Florida Aquarium or the Busch Gardens Africa.

 

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