SOMERSET traders are being warned to beware after several fake £50 notes were passed in the county in the past fortnight.

Police have already seized six of the false Bank of Scotland notes, with a further five incidents reported on Friday.

Of those recovered, three were in Wincanton, one from Ilchester and the other at Podimore, while officers are investigating four incidents in Chard and one in Ilminster on Friday.

With so many notes discovered, police have issued a countywide alert amid fears of an organised scam that could also hit other areas of Somerset.

The seized notes have the serial numbers AA211469 or BA462122 on the bottom right-hand corner of the reverse side.

PC Andy Stuart said: "All of these incidents have happened over the past fortnight and, we believe, the same two men are responsible.

"My advice is for businesses not to accept any Bank of Scotland £50 notes unless they are 100% certain that they are genuine and to be particularly suspicious if the customer is using such a high value note to pay for a small purchase.

"Although the notes look fairly genuine, they do feel very stiff.

"In light of this current trend, businesses need to be extra vigilant."

The two men suspected of being responsible for the incidents are both white.

One is around 25-years-old, 5ft 8in tall, of slim build with short brown hair.

The other is 40 to 50-years-old, about 5ft 9in tall, of medium build, with freckles on his face.

Anyone with information about the offenders should contact Crewkerne Police Station on 0845-4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

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