Old fivers can’t be used after tomorrow
HALTON residents have only hours left to spend their old paper £5 notes.
The old currency – featuring a portrait of Elizabeth Fry – will be withdrawn from circulation tomorrow, Friday, May 5.
From that date onwards, the only £5 note that will be legal tender after this date is the polymer one featuring Sir Winston Churchill, which was introduced last September, a Bank Of England spokesman said.
Runcornians and Widnesians are being encouraged to either spend their old bank notes or swap them at the bank before May 5.
After this date, residents who encounter banks, building societies or Post Offices which are not willing to accept these notes can exchange them with the Bank of England in London by post (BOE) or in person.
A new polymer £10 note featuring Jane Austen will be issued in September this year and a £20 note by 2020.
The BOE spokesman said: “The Bank Of England decided to move to polymer notes because they are cleaner, safer and stronger than paper notes.
“Polymer notes provide enhanced counterfeit resilience and increase the quality ● of notes in circulation.
“And, because they last around two-and-a-half times longer than paper notes, polymer notes are also more environmentally friendly.’’
The spokesman added: “They will retain the traditional design of our existing notes.
“This will include a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen on the front and historic characters on the back.”