London to get its first eurozone

Customers will be able to pay in pounds and euros

A shopping arcade in central London is to become the city's first permanent "eurozone".

From Friday, people visiting Kingly Court, behind the world famous Carnaby Street, will be able to use euros as well as pounds.

Initially 35 retailers will take part in the scheme which hopes to cash in on the tourists that flock to the area.

The scheme has also been launched to coincide with the expansion of the European Union on Saturday.

Julia Gash, MEP candidate for Yorkshire and Humber and owner of designer lingerie and erotica store 'Gash' in Kingly Court, helped launch the UK's first eurozone in Sheffield back in 2002.

She said: "I'm really pleased that Kingly Court has embraced the euro.

"Now that 10 more countries will be joining Europe on 1 May, there'll be lots more tourists who will be coming to London with Euros in their pockets."