Tips have been issued by police to help spot fake £5 notes after rumours of counterfeit cash being floated into circulation.

Police and the Bank of England, which originally claimed the new polymer notes were harder to forge than their paper predecessors, are now investigating claims of forged fivers. 

It is believed the notes were spotted in the Poole area and could be distributed across the country.

MORE: EXPLAINED: When will the new 12-sided pound coin be out - and when is the deadline for spending the old 'round pounds'? 

Here are six things to look for if you're worried about any of your notes: 

  • Check the see-through window and the portrait of the Queen
  • Check the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) is gold on the front of the note and silver on the back
  • Check the foil patch below the see-through window changes from 'Five' to 'Pounds' when the note is tilted
  • Check the coronation crown appears 3D (wiggle the note to see the effect)
  • Check the ultra-violet feature (a '5' will appear at the bottom left when UV light is shone on it)
  • Check the circular green foil patch on the back of the note which contains the word BLENHEIM - after Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill who appears on the note

If any one of these things look odd or the note feels unusual, call police on 101.