A pensioner's plight over being unable to use cash at her leisure centre has sparked calls for the Chancellor to review the entire system of card only payments.

Juliet Casciano, from Deal, told KentOnline this week she was furious after her nearest sports facility, Tides Leisure Centre, refused to take the 'hot cash burning a hole in her pocket'.

But her issue has been taken up by MP Natalie Elphicke who is calling on Dover District Council - which runs Tides - to reinstate cash payments.

The Dover MP agreed with Ms Casciano’s concerns over being unable to use the leisure centre and has written to the Chancellor to review the way businesses should accept cash payments.

“My constituent Juliet is completely right to raise concerns about being able to use cash,” Ms Elphicke told KentOnline.

"It’s becoming increasingly an issue that, in spite of cash being legal tender, many businesses and even sports facilities are now refusing to accept it.

"I’ve written to the council to ask them to look at reinstating cash options at Tides as well as to the Chancellor to ask that the government considers a legal requirement to accept cash to pay for goods and services."

A spokesperson from Your Leisure, which runs Tides, said the leisure centre remained cashless after the pandemic after noticing improvements such as ending queues at peak times.

They said their standard membership requires those signing up to have an email address and be able to set up a direct debit payment.