YORK residents are being warned to check their change carefully after a number of counterfeit £1 coins surfaced in the city.

Two Evening Press readers have come forward with the fake tender and have urged other people to make sure they do no lose out.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said he was not aware of a sudden rise in the number of counterfeit coins in circulation, but added that residents should be on their guard.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mint, in London, confirmed that instances of fake pound coins had arisen across the UK, but said there were no specific problems in North Yorkshire.

Keith Chapman, of St Benedict Road, said he had been given two fake £1 coins in the past seven days and feared that many people may not recognise the counterfeit currency.

He said: "If somebody does not tackle these forgeries and bring them to the public attention, the problem can only get worse."

Dale Minks, of Ancress Walk, York, said he received a fake coin after shopping at a local store. He said: "People should be on their guard."

He added: "It is the general public that are going to have to stand the cost if this trend of fake coins is going to grow, but as far as I can see it is not a very sophisticated set up."

Sergeant Ventress said if people knew where the coin originated they should contact York Police with details. But he added that he knew of no specific complaints in the past few weeks.

The Royal Mint spokeswoman said coin users should look out for an inscription in the milled edge of one and two pound coins that is difficult to reproduce.

She said anyone who feels they have been given a counterfeit coin should take it to the police with details of where they received it.

Updated: 10:35 Saturday, August 02, 2003