UK readers will be aware of the recent introduction of a new £5 note. The new fiver is made from polymer (plastic) and is claimed to be stronger, cleaner and safer as a result.

And it seems the new hardier design brings into play plenty of other uses - such as acting as a needle on a vinyl record.

YouTube user Michael Ridge was the man with the time on his hands, holding the corner of a fiver to an Abba record and revelling in the resultant close approximation of music. See for yourself in the video below.

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Naturally, it's not quite as simple as it looks. The video also uses a contact microphone and a small amplifier to muster up the sound. But, yes, the new £5 note will do the job of a particularly poor needle.

Would we recommend you try this at home? Of course we wouldn't - there's a pretty good chance it could damage your records.

If you want to go the whole hog you could make a complete turntable out of paper and then cut a playable vinyl record out of a tortilla chip... But hey, maybe you have better things to do.

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