THREE incidents involving counterfeit money were reported to police in Middlesbrough over the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, an elderly lady tried to pay for goods with fake notes in a shop on Linthorpe Road.

Later that evening, a man answered an advert advertising a tablet computer for sale. He gave the owner £100 in £10 notes and left before the owner realised the notes were counterfeit.

He was described as white, aged 28-32, 5ft 9 and of stocky build with short mousy hair and a local accent.

A third incident, on Sunday afternoon, saw a male buyer reply to an advert for an Xbox 360 advertised on Gumtree.

He arrived at the seller’s address and paid for the games console in fake £10 notes.

He is described as white, in his late 20s to early 30s, around 6ft 1 and of medium build with fair hair brushed forward and spiked at the front. He had a pale face, long nose and spoke with a local accent.

The notes have been seized by police and sent for forensic analysis.

Police have warned the public to be extra vigilant, to check notes carefully and hand any counterfeit notes into police.