04 February 2008 Passports: Microwaved, exploded and eaten
A selection of unusual reasons for requests for passport replacements has been released by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).
The IPS reveals that more than 225,000 passports were reported lost or stolen in 2007 by British passport holders.
Among the reasons given for this loss or damage were that a Great Dane tore one Briton's passport "to shreds" while another passport holder reported that his son accidentally microwaved his.
Home Office Minister Meg Hillier noted that Britons who don't have a valid passport run the risk of missing out on their holidays.
"To save a lot of trouble, my advice is: never book travel until you actually have your passport, and look after your passport once you receive it," Ms Hillier advised.
Other passport palavers included one man losing his passport - which was locked in a safe - in a Titanic moment aboard his yacht, while another man missed out on a holiday after cutting out his passport picture to use in a bus pass.
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