14347/1Police are urging shopkeepers in Wootton Bassett to be extra vigilant after a number of fake £50 notes were discovered last week.

Four shopkeepers in Wootton Bassett and one in Lyneham have been fooled by the fake notes.

The counterfeits were discovered when the shopkeepers tried paying their takings into the bank.

The fake Bank of Scotland £50 notes have been used to buy relatively cheap products resulting in a large return of change.

The money lost is at the cost of the shop keepers and cannot be reimbursed by the bank.

WPC Hailey Tarling, of Wootton Bassett Police Station, said: "The notes are very thick compared to bank notes.

"But because they are Bank of Scotland notes, people think they must be ok and are not checking them properly.

"If anyone is at all uncertain then they should check first with their managers.

"They will then be able to check the notes properly and avoid any fakes getting through."

WPC Tarling urged shop managers to check any suspicious notes using forge pens or machine readers that can help detect counterfeits.

Police are currently examining in-store CCTV footage from October 5 which is when they believe the transactions took place.

Wootton Bassett CCTV centre supervisor Mike Tupman said: "We received a call from Iceland and immediately scoured the town for half an hour but couldn't find anyone. Word gets around very quickly.

"In the build up to Christmas people have got to be very careful and conscious of possible fraud.

"We will certainly be going through our tapes to see if we can spot these people."

Reports of fake notes have also been reported recently from shopkeepers in Swindon and Marlborough.

Police have issued the following serial numbers which were on the fake notes: AB036539 and AA613551.

If any other shops have received fake notes or have any information which may be helpful they are asked to contact Wootton Bassett Police Station on (01793) 852213.

Swindon police are also warning of an alleged scam after two incidents in Highworth last Friday.

Fraudsters called into shops asking if they could change a bundle of £20 notes into change of various denominations.

They then change their minds and request a different combination, after which they may return to the original request.

The aim is to cause confusion, thus creating an opportunity to steal.

In one of the incidents the fraudsters failed to take any money but in the second incident they stole £60.

A police spokesman said: "We would ask all retail outlets, including public houses, to be aware of this scam and to be vigilant when asked to change large amounts of cash."

In both Highworth incidents there were two males involved.

The men are described as being of Eastern European appearance, in their 20s, and with black hair.

One man was wearing black clothing and the second man wore a padded type sports jacket with two white stripes down the sleeves.

Anyone with information or who has been similarly approached is asked to contact PC Martin Miles at Highworth Police Station on (01793) 528111.