Kent Police have issued further warnings to consumers and shopkeepers after forged £20 notes have appeared in different areas across the county.

Officers in Medway warned shoppers on Tuesday to be careful after the fake money was found circulating in central Chatham.

On the same day in Faversham, police received reports from two stores of a teenage girl attempting to buy goods with a counterfeit £20.

The Faversham suspect struck on Tuesday April 1, and is aged between 15-17 years old, with long brown hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a black satin bomber jacket and black jeans. She also spoke with an Irish accent.

Four people have also been arrested in Ashford this week on suspicion of circulating counterfeit cash. Three of the men arrested, aged 17, 25 and 36 have been released on bail while officers make further inquiries and one, aged 17, has been formally cautioned.

Police advised people to be extra vigilant in checking bank notes for the following signs to see if it is genuine:

~ Feel the paper: if the note is in a good condition it should be crisp and slightly rough and not waxy, limp or shiny.

~ It should carry a watermark of the Queen that can be seen when held to the light.

~ A genuine note has a thread embedded into the paper. When held to the light this should form a bold continuous line. Genuine banknotes are designed using fine lines and images should not appear in soft focus or fuzzy.

It is a crime to try to pass or possess a banknote that you either know or think to be counterfeit. If you inadvertently receive a note that you believe to be counterfeit, you should take it to the nearest police station.

Shop assistants are urged to contact police if they are suspicious of a customer's money. Anyone with information on this matter is asked to contact their local police station or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.