Seaside town allows euro payments

It's hoped people will use their spare euros in Bournemouth

You'll usually be turned away if you try to pay for your dinner in euros in most UK towns.

But for some businesses in Bournemouth and nearby Poole non-British currency is now being accepted, in an attempt to boost sales.

The Urban Beach Hotel and Bar is one business taking part, offering an exchange rate of 1.2 euros to a pound.

That may not be the best rate available, but it's not far off what you'd get at the bank down the road.

Tourism chiefs say there are millions of pounds left over in foreign currency from people's trips abroad, and reckon this will give them the chance to spend it.

"I know that people are saying, 'Oh, I've got 75 euros at home, and yeah, if I can spend it as part of a holiday then I will'," explained John Weaver from Bournemouth Tourism.

This isn't the first scheme of its kind - at Christmas Dunster in Somerset became the first UK town to accept euros, and it's likely to happen in other places too.