Market town prints money to solve economic woes

Traders in a tiny market town have introduced their own version of the Bank of England’s quantitative easing money-printing programme to help boost the high street economy.

Up to 30 businesses in the centre of Midhurst in West Sussex have signed up to give away “Midhurst Pounds” throughout December with every purchase customers make.

Consumers will be able to spend their “pounds” in January in part-payment against purchases made in any of the participating shops in the town, which has a population of around 5,000.