Goodbye, Charles Darwin: Here’s when the old £10 note will no longer be legal tender

After the introduction of the jazzy new plastic tenner, the Bank of England has revealed the date the old, paper version will stop being legal tender.

This morning the Bank said one minute before midnight on 1 March is the date on which the old £10 note, featuring Charles Darwin, will have its legal tender status withdrawn – although it added the note will still be exchanged at the Bank of England.

The new, plastic tenner, which features Jane Austen, went into circulation in mid-September.

The new version is two and a half times stronger than its paper counterpart (and is better at surviving the washing machine). It is also the first British banknote with so-called tactile information, which helps blind and partially sighted people assess its value.

Its introduction followed the new £5 note, which went into circulation in September 2016, and caused controversy because of traces of tallow, a product derived from animal fats, contained in the notes (it’s also in the tenner).

In 2020 the new, plastic £20 note will complete the set. Adam Smith, who currently features, will be replaced by JMW Turner.