SHOP owners and staff in Teignbridge are being warned to be on the lookout for fake Scottish £20 notes.

Police are say there have been reports of the notes being passed at shops in Dawlish, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth in the last week.

Two men have been seen with the notes which are described as appearing faded and off-colour.

The culprits are targeting fast food shops and cake shops, particularly during busy periods, using the notes often to buy something small and cheap to get the most change.

Police say one man is ‘very distinctive’ with a scar on the left side of his face.

The ‘off- colour’ notes have a very smooth texture and have no metallic thread or watermark. They can be easily detected and identified by using a counterfeit bank not detection pen.

Shop owners are asked to report and incidents of the notes being either passed or attempts to use them to police. Officers want them to be used as evidence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101 or emailing [email protected]