BRITAIN'S new plastic fiver has been unveiled to visitors at York's National Railway Museum.

A team from the Bank of England arrived yesterday to talk to the public about the polymer note's innovative design and security features.

Kirsty Buckle, 49, from Green Hammerton, liked the new £5 note. "The material is really good," she said. "It’ll be great to see the old tatty fivers being got rid of.”

Her son, Henry, 9, agreed. “They did an experiment on the One Show about how its good bye to paper money once it’s gone through the wash. I’m looking forward to the new plastic ten and twenty pound notes now. I also like the design with Big Ben.”

Henry Jones, 54, from Hartlepool, was another fan. “The colour is brilliant," he said. "What’s also great is that if you get it in water it won’t disintegrate.”

Rob Whittingham, 47, from Worcestershire, said: "The new fiver looks very unusual and different, but if it lasts longer and can go through the washing machine then that’s got be to a good thing. It’s more robust, and just looks cleaner."

The new fiver featuring Winston Churchill will be issued on September 13, after which paper £5 notes will be gradually withdrawn from circulation. A new polymer £10 featuring Jane Austen will enter circulation in 2017 followed by the J.M.W. Turner £20 note by 2020.