Watch out for a wave of chuggers as the new pound coin arrives

THE new pound coin could bring a wave of chuggers this summer as the Government tells charities to get out with their buckets and collect old coins.

The new 12-sided £1 coin is introduced today and replaces the familiar round coin, which has been in circulation since 1983. From October 15 the round pounds will cease to be legal tender, giving people six months to spend, bank or donate them.

In a bid to encourage people to give the coins to charity, the Royal Mint wants charities to increase their presence this summer, focusing on supermarkets, retail outlets and public areas where people are likely to have their purses and wallets out. The National Council For Voluntary Organisations’s website says: “Now is the time to get planning about fund-raising work your charity could do around the coin over the summer.”

Micheal Birtwisple, a senior policy officer at the organisation, said: “We’re expecting big fund-raising efforts over the summer with lots of bucket collections linked up with Gift Aid. We’re ex- ploring creative ways to get people to donate at supermarket tills – for example, recreating something similar to the charity token system that already exists in many branches.”

Government research suggests there are millions of old pound coins saved in jam jars and piggy banks, and around 5pc of the public would consider donating them.