Plastic banknotes will continue to be made with a trace of tallow as the Bank of England has rejected calls to change production to use palm oil or another non-animal fat.

The new fivers - and, soon, the new £20 note - contain a tiny amount of the material as part of the production process.

An outcry from some vegan and religious groups led the Bank to look for alternatives to the greasy ingredient, and palm oil appeared to be the most likely contender.