High street giant Boots is banning cheques for a trial period at 46 stores in southern England, and if it's a success, the ban will be extended nationwide by Christmas. Shell has already banned cheques, and Asda and Tesco restrict their use.

The advent of chip and pin technology appears to have signed the death warrant for cheques as fewer and fewer shoppers are using them. Boots also reckons the use of cheques leaves stores more at risk of fraud.

But groups such as Help the Aged have criticised the idea, saying elderly people are the biggest cheque users, This Is Money reported.