THE euro, the controversial European currency, has come to Runcorn, courtesy of a town travel firm!

Travelworld, the travel agent with shops in Church Street and Halton Brook, recently introduced travellers cheques in the new currency for holidaymakers travelling throughout the 11 countries who have adopted it.

It is seen as a major step forward in persuading sceptical British traditionalists to accept the new currency which will become legal tender within the EC next year, replacing national currencies such as the mark, franc and peseta, which have been very familiar to travellers in Europe.

So far, according to Lisa Ellis, manager of Travelworld in Church Street, the branch has sold around £800 worth in the past three months, with many more expected within the next few months.

She said: 'We expect to sell a lot of euros as people become aware that it is available now in travellers cheques, and as people continue to want to travel to popular countries such as Spain and France, and as they are being sold as cheques the conversion rate with sterling is cheaper.'

And her colleague Lindsay Jones, Travelworld's Area Sales Manager for Foreign Exchange, added: 'This gives our clients the chance to try out the Euro at a better rate of exchange, and since they are travellers cheques, the money is safe in case it is lost or stolen.

'In addition, since there is no expiry date on the cheques, people can keep hold of them as long as they want in case they decide to go abroad again.

'Since it is only a matter of time before Britain joins the euro, this will give us a perfect chance to get used to it, as next year all national currencies within the other 11 EC countries will scrap their own national currencies and we will have to deal with the Euro whether we like it or not.'

Ironically, but much to the delight of die-hard anti-Europeans, the new Euro travellers cheques are being sold by AMERICAN Express!