Letter From Europe By Gary Titley, Labour Member of the European Parliament for the North-west of England IT'S been a long time coming.

But, on New Year's Day, it finally arrives. Euro notes and coins will be introduced in the 12 EU countries that now make up what is known as the eurozone. Yet most people in Bolton won't immediately notice the difference.

The euro will be used alongside the "old" national currencies for a few weeks. But, on February 28, "old" notes and coins will be finally withdrawn, leaving the euro as the only legal tender.

Some countries are switching over even earlier. Holland will make the change on January 28, Ireland on February 9 and France on February 17.

"So what", I can already hear some BEN readers saying "Britain isn't joining the euro, so it won't make a scrap of difference to us." But it will -- and a lot sooner than many people think.

The first time you set foot in continental Europe from January 1, 2002, onwards, you will notice the change immediately. When you buy your foreign currency, you will get euros. All goods will be priced in euros. And you will get change in euros.

Significantly, you will even be able to use any leftover euros in Britain. Major supermarket chains here, including Asda and Sainsburys, are introducing shopping trolleys that will accept euros. And big High Street retailers, like Boots and Marks & Spencer, have announced they will accept payment in euros.

It just goes to show that we may keep Britain out of the euro, but we won't keep the euro out of Britain.

So why not start rooting through your drawers for any "old" pesetas, francs and escudos get your local bank to swap them in euros, ready for your next trip abroad. Most major banks will happily exchange notes, though not coins. Alternatively, get your notes changed into pounds. You never know. You could be sitting on a tidy windfall -- very handy with the festive season just round the corner.

As for coins, why not really enter the spirit of Christmas and donate them to charity, again through your local bank.

When New Year's Day finally dawns, travelling in Europe will never be the same again. And that is something we in Britain are going to have to get used to, a lot sooner than we expected.