Mayo town offers to exchange punts for euro

Shopkeepers in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, are going back to the future by accepting old Irish punts as payment for goods and services.

Just over a decade ago the euro replaced the punt, but the Central Bank estimates that more than £300m is still outstanding.

Shoppers in Ballinrobe will get an opportunity to put that money to good use, with the Spend Your Punts campaign.

They will be offered an exchange rate of £1 for €1.20 and change will be given in vouchers.

It comes after a similar campaign was run in Clones, Co. Monaghan.

More than 40 local businesses have signed up for the scheme.