POLICE are reporting that fake £20 notes have been spotted in the Woodstock area.

The force said this morning that the counterfeit currency had been 'passed' in the West Oxfordshire town 'in the last day'.

It issued Bank of England advice to workers who deal with cash, and said scammers target businesses that do not make checks.

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The advice suggests checking more than one security feature on bank notes and joining the Banknote Checking Scheme, which promotes increased banknote checking through targeted education and training.

UV lamps and detector pens can be used to check banknotes are genuine and counterfeiters often use high-value notes to buy low value items, the advice adds.

For more information, contact +44 (0)20 3461 4878.