Wildlife lovers are hoping to cash in on the euro to help pay for local nature conservation schemes.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is appealing for people to hand over their foreign coins because they will not be needed after the euro is officially brought in throughout several European countries in January.

Sheila Martin, the Trust's fundraising support officer, said :"We can sell off those spare foreign coins which lurk around many homes long after the holiday tans have faded.

"And with E-day fast approaching there is more of a need to act without delay.

"We can sell off the coins now and raise considerable sums of money.

"When they are replaced by the euro, however, their value will plummet so we need people to let us have their spare coins as quickly as possible."

On January 1, 2002, the 12 countries in the euro-zone which will be exchanging their notes and coins for euros will be Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain.

If you have coins to give contact Sheila at the Trust's office on 01380 725670 or e-mail smartin@wiltshirewildlife.org