STAFF at a vegetarian café in Bolton say they will still accept the new £5 note following controversy that it contains beef tallow.

Campaigners have urged the Bank of England to find an alternative method of manufacturing the new polymer-based currency that does not use the substance — which is made from rendered animal fat.

At The Kitchen co-operative vegetarian takeaway and cafe in Great Moor Street, staff and customers have been surprised by the revelations but are continuing to use the notes.

Hiran Tailor, 28, from Halliwell, who works in the cafe said: “There was surprise as to why they needed to use it in the notes with all the things you could have used instead. I don’t see why they’d need to use it considering the note is plastic. You’d have thought there would be a substitute they could use.

“There’s no issue with accepting the notes here. There have been the odd one or two comments from customers, but nothing serious. No-one has refused to take one as change or anything like that.”

“A couple of times at the till someone will have mentioned that it’s got beef tallow in it. We’re still fine using them here.”

Elsewhere in the UK, some vegetarian and vegan cafes have refused to use the new note. The National Council of Hindu Temples has also said it looks forward to ‘the prompt withdrawal’ of notes containing tallow.

On the Bolton News Facebook page, readers were divided.

Jordan Tyldesley said: “It’s completely unacceptable that in 2016 we still decide to needlessly use materials from a slaughtered animal.”

Leanne Elliott said: “It you don’t like the new £5 notes then don’t use them. Don’t accept one from a shop. Ask for change.”