POLICE have issued a warning after a number of fake banknotes were found to be in circulation in the borough.

Officers have reported that there have been several incidents of counterfeit Royal Bank of Scotland £20 notes being passed to businesses in Whitefield and Bury.

The notes can be distinguished by the water mark – which appears unclear when compared to authentic currency – and are also said to smell of hairspray or perfume.

A spokesman from the GMP Bury South police station said: "We have had several reports of counterfeit Royal Bank of Scotland £20 notes being passed to businesses in Whitefield and Bury.

"The notes lack a clear image/watermark in the paper on the left hand side of working 'Twenty Pounds'. The notes also have a smell of hairspray or female perfume.

"These notes do not flag up as counterfeit with 'counterfeit note detection pens.'"

The warning comes amid a campaign by independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, encouraging members of the public to provide information on those making, buying, or selling counterfeit banknotes.

In the run-up to Christmas, the charity last month launched its ‘Fake money is a crime – who’s selling it?’ artwork in bars and clubs throughout the region city in order to raise awareness of counterfeit crime.

Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, Roger Critchell, said: “The public should not be tempted by these notes, as it is a criminal offence to knowingly hold or use them.

“The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of counterfeit money, especially around Christmas when money can be tight, but also to highlight how heartless and callous fraudsters can be when targeting their victims.

“I’d ask that anyone with information on those selling counterfeit notes contact Crimestoppers anonymously, safe in the knowledge no one will know you spoke to us, and knowing you may have prevented someone’s Christmas from being ruined.”