This unpleasant-looking character is called the Squander Bug, and it was created during the Second World War by artist Phillip Boydell, an employee of the National Savings Committee. The Committee raised funds by urging the public to save their own money and invest it in the war effort.

The cartoon bug appeared in press adverts and poster campaigns as a menace who encouraged shoppers to waste money rather than buy war savings certificates.

The campaign was extremely popular and the cartoon was adapted for use in other countries, including Australia and New Zealand. The American children’s author Dr Seuss created his own version of the Squander Bug for use in war savings campaigns in the United States.

Here are six different faces of the Squander Bug.