POLICE are hunting two men after a spike in the number of fake £50 notes being used in the Southampton area.

Now they have released CCTV images of a pair they would like to speak to.

Posing as customers, suspects have gone into shops and bought a number of low value items and pocketed a large amount of cash in change.

Officers advise that if you suspect a note is not genuine please take it to your local police station as soon as possible. It is a criminal offence to hold onto or pass on counterfeit notes.

The Bank of England website offers general guidance on how to spot a fake from the real thing. 

Anyone with information can contact PC Maria Firth at Southampton Central Police Station by phoning 101 and quoting ref 4410050033972.

Information can be given anonymously by phoning the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.