A third of people living in England have rejected Scottish bank notes as fake, a survey found.

In total, 33% of the 1710 people surveyed said they thought the notes, from the Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank, were counterfeit.

Just over three quarters (76%) were unable to identify where the currency was from, while one in six (16%) believed the notes were now out of circulation.

More than one in ten (12%) said they were unsure of the exchange rate between Scotland and England.

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Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) to the survey by Censuswide Scotland would reject the notes.

Royal Bank of Scotland notes were the least likely to be accepted by those surveyed with a fifth (21%) believing they were fake.

A total of 17% thought Bank of Scotland notes to be fake, dropping to 16% for the Clydesdale Bank.

Earlier this month, Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael lodged a Private Members’ Bill in the House of Commons in a bid to make it legally binding for Scottish banknotes to be accepted across the UK.

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Scottish banknotes are legal currency in the UK but not legal tender.

No banknotes are classed as legal tender in Scotland and the Royal Mint explains the phrase is a narrow technical term referring to the settlement of debts, and in ordinary transactions both parties can agree to accept “any form of payment”.

Mr Carmichael’s Legal Tender (Scottish Banknotes) Bill would mean no distinction could be drawn between Scottish banknotes and others in the UK as forms of payment.

An earlier attempt to legislate for Scottish banknotes to be accepted throughout the UK was made by current Scottish secretary David Mundell.

His Scottish Banknotes (Acceptability in United Kingdom) Bill was put before the UK Parliament in 2009 but was not made law.

Mr Carmichael said: “These figures show just how common it is for people elsewhere in the UK to be confused by Scottish currency.

“If you’re Scottish or Northern Irish, chances are that you will have a tale of a time that your banknotes were met with bafflement.

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“The UK Government need to encourage businesses across the UK to recognise and accept these notes.

“Alongside giving their support for the measure outlined in my bill, they should also launch a public awareness campaign to boost public knowledge of the different types of bank notes in use across these islands.”