91�ȱ�

Ice cream shop staff have "learnt a big lesson" after accepting a number of fake £50 notes, the owner said.

Lauren Evans from Fablas in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan said, that the shop had three fakes handed over the counter in one day last week.

Despite the notes initially passing a test with a fake note marker pen, they later found out they were counterfeit.

South Wales Police is encouraging businesses to be "vigilant" when accepting cash.

A man bought three ice creams separately at a cost of £3.50, each time paying with a £50 Bank of Scotland note.

In a post on social media, Ms Evans said they found out the notes were fake after using the "scrunch test".

“I put the status on Facebook to warn others. Since then it has been shared over 800 times with other businesses coming forward," she said.

"We found out that a butcher in Bridgend was also targeted on the same morning."

Despite being scammed, Ms Evans said she will still allow people to pay with cash, although the business will no longer accept £50 notes.

"We don’t want to get rid of the cash element. It’ll lose a whole generation. Grandparents like to give their grandchildren cash to treat themselves to an ice cream," she said.

“It’s an expensive and big lesson learnt.”

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “On 30 July, we were contacted by a business in Cowbridge which reported being given three fake £50 notes on July 22.

“This appears to be an isolated report, however local business are encouraged to be vigilant when receiving goods and services for cash and to report incidents to us.

“Enquiries into the incident in Cowbridge are underway.”