New plastic £5 notes featuring Sir Winston Churchill enter circulation today

Mark Chandler13 September 2016

A new £5 note made from plastic and featuring Sir Winston Churchill’s face has entered circulation today.

The fiver, which can survive a spin in the washing machine, is made from polymer instead of paper and is said by the Bank of England to be cleaner, safer and stronger than its predecessor.

Around 440 million of the notes are being printed, with the old paper fiver being gradually phased out until it is withdrawn from circulation in May 2017.

While some people may start to see the new fiver immediately at cash machines and bank counters, particularly in big cities like London, for others it may take a few weeks.

Plastic: The new fiver enters circulation today
Dominic Lipinski/PA

The Bank has been working with the cash industry to help get machines ready for the new £5 notes.

It said not all machines will be ready from day one and it will continue to work with businesses to ensure a smooth transition.

The new £5 note paves the way for a new generation of security features, making it harder to counterfeit.

They include a see-through window featuring the Queen's portrait as well as Big Ben shown in gold foil on the front of the note and silver on the back.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said: "The new fiver commemorates one of the greatest statesmen of all time, Winston Churchill, who remarked that 'a nation that forgets its past has no future'.

New GBP £5 Note - In pictures

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"Banknotes are repositories of the United Kingdom's collective memory, and we will be reminded of Churchill's enormous contributions as he once again becomes part of our daily lives as the new fiver flows out into tills and pockets."

Mr Carney said of the new note: "The use of polymer means it can better withstand being repeatedly folded into wallets or scrunched up inside pockets and can also survive a spin in the washing machine.

"We expect polymer notes to last at least two and-a-half times longer than the current generation of fivers and therefore reduce future costs of production."

The next £10 and £20 notes will also be printed on polymer.

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