Has it ever happened to you? Have you ever put your trousers in the washing machine and then remembered there was a large bank note in your back pocket? When you rescued your trousers, you found that the note had been turned into a white blob. Few people would do anything about it. But there is a special department in the Bank of England which deals with claims for damaged bank notes. The Bank's Mutilated Ladies look after damaged bank notes. 'Ladies' refers to the Queen and other famous women whose portraits appear on British bank notes.