Sanders Coaches no longer accepting £5 notes after being handed counterfeit cash - affecting Fakenham and Burnham Market passengers

A bus company has announced it is no longer accepting £5 notes after being handed counterfeit cash nearly 30 times in a matter of days.

Sanders Coaches, which runs services through the likes of Fakenham and Burnham Market, made the announcement yesterday.

The company runs popular buses along the North Norfolk coast, where a number of the offences are reported to have been committed.

It also serves the likes of South Creake, North Creake and Little Snoring.

A statement from Sanders Coaches said: “Since Friday we have been handed 26 fake £5 notes, many in the North Walsham, Cromer and Sheringham area.

“To protect our drivers, our revenue and to prevent us handing you a fake one back as change we have taken the decision to refuse any further £5 notes until further notice. We are working with Norfolk Constabulary on the matter.

“You are welcome to pay with other cash or use contactless card, but we ask you co-operate with us on this matter.

“Please also do not be offended if our drivers check any other cash you present to them, this is an instruction from the company to be extra vigilant.”

A Norfolk Police spokesperson confirmed officers are investigating after the company reported “a number of suspected counterfeit bank notes had been used in separate transactions”.