The penny has failed to drop for British consumers when it comes to looking after their loose change, it was revealed today.

There are more than 6.5 billion pennies unaccounted for, a survey by car company Chevrolet found. Two in five of the missing coins are lost on the street, while about 17% of them are lying unused in handbags and suitcases.

Around 12% are in cars, 9% down the back of sofas and 6% in clothes and shoes. People in south-east and south-west England are most likely to pick up lost pennies, with Londoners the least likely to do so.

As many as 61% of those surveyed said they never bothered to pick up pennies left lying around.

Les Turton of Chevrolet said: "In an expensive world where every penny counts it’s surprising so much money is unaccounted for. If it’s true that looking after the pennies looks after the pounds then hopefully we’ve helped to point people in the direction of Britain’s lost millions.

"Now it’s up to them to scour the streets and search their cars and sofas to find the cash. If you find one pick it up and not only will you have good luck all day, but a healthier bank balance, too."

The top 10 places to find lost pennies are:
1. In the street (40%)
2. In handbags and suitcases (17%)
3. In the car (12%)
4. Down the backs of sofas (9%)
5. In clothes and shoes (6%)
6. In the washing machine (5%)
7. Dropped in a shop (4%)
8. On public transport (3%)
9. In the vacuum cleaner (2%)
10. Down the drain (1%)