Traders are being warned to be on their guard after police received reports that forged £20 notes are being circulated.

The forgeries are counterfeit Scottish £20 notes which have been passed in Horsham over the past week.

Police fear that because the notes are Scottish and are not often handled in the South of England, shopkeepers are being duped into accepting them.

Crime prevention officer PC Nigel Tinkler urged traders to be on their guard.

He said: "Care should be taken when handling these particular notes. Traders should remember they do not respond in the same way as English notes to ultraviolet tests."