POLICE are advising the public and businesses to be on their guard against being offered forged £20 notes after a noticeable increase in reports from local businesses and officers are seeking information about those responsible.

Over the past few days there has been a sudden increase in reports of forged new style £20 notes being tendered - with local businesses across Dorset reporting eleven such incidents.

Rachelle Randall of Dorset Police's force intelligence bureau, said: "This is an unusually high number of reports and there's no doubt that a large number of forged new style £20 notes are circulating locally.

"In a report on Thursday 14 February 2008, an 18 year old Poole man was arrested after he using thirty three such notes to pay for a large item at a Poole store. He has since been released on police bail.

"We've had reports from businesses in Poole, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Christchurch, Bere Regis, Ferndown and Blandford, and it's likely we'll receive more.

"I'm urging all businesses to be on their guard and to take particular care when examining the new £20 notes - a good rule is if in doubt then compare it with a note that you know is genuine - the Bank of England website gives further advice. (See below) "We know that the forgers will sell on their notes at a fraction of face value and so I'm urging anyone with information about the forgers - or about those selling or possessing forged bank notes - to contact the police urgently."