SHOPKEEPERS in Farnworth are being asked to keep a look out for forged £1 coins.

Managers at the town's Asda store yesterday discovered 52 of them in a machine that dispenses saving stamps.

The "coins" look just like the real currency but the gold colour can be scratched off to reveal that they are really made of lead.

Shoppers are also being asked to check their change when buying goods to ensure they are not given the forgeries by mistake.

PC Steve Openshaw, from Bolton's Crime Reduction Unit, said: "We want shop owners and members of the public to be aware so we can stop people passing off these forgeries as money." "They do fairly look like real currency but the gold colour can be scratched off to reveal the metal underneath."

The fake coins were discovered when the machine was emptied at the end of the day.

It is thought that somebody had used them to buy saving vouchers that could be exchanged for goods the Asda store.

PC Openshaw said: "We do not see a lot of fake coins like this because it takes a lot of effort to make them for such small denominations.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the unit on 0161 856 5625.