RESIDENTS are being reminded they have until midnight tonight (Friday) to spend any old £5 notes they have – after that they will no longer be legal tender.
From then, shops and other businesses will no longer have to accept the paper notes which feature Elizabeth Fry.
A spokesperson for The Bank of England said: “We are encouraging anyone who still has paper £5 notes to spend them by this date.
“After May 5, 2017, the new polymer £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill will be the only £5 note with legal tender status.
“Some banks and building societies may accept paper £5 notes after May 5, but this is at their own discretion.
“The Bank of England will continue to exchange Fry £5 notes for all time, as we would for any other Bank of England note which no longer has legal tender status.”
