FIVE people have been arrested following police inquiries into the circulation of scores of fake £20 notes.

The counterfeit money has been passed at pubs and shops in the Sunderland area in recent days.

Detectives have warned people to check notes they receive in change, although the forgeries are described as extremely crude copies.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Adamson, of Sunderland CID, said the notes had been used to buy low-value items so the customer received a large amount of change in genuine money.

Other tactics employed included requests to exchange a £20 fake for two £10 notes.

Chief Insp Adamson said: "People should take time to check any notes when someone gives them a £20 note for change or to buy an item.

"The fakes are very crude. The texture of them is completely different to normal notes and they are not of a good quality."

Following initial inquiries, police have now recovered a further £1,500 in counterfeit currency.

Three suspects were arrested earlier in the week, and two other people have been questioned on suspicion of forgery and theft.