Local currency ends after 17 years in circulation

Political writer and philosopher Thomas Paine, who lived in Lewes, featured on the notes

One of the UK's best-known local currencies has ended after the people running the project said they "ran out of steam".

The Lewes pound was a voucher that people could spend at more than 100 shops in the East Sussex town. Each Lewes pound was worth £1.

But in March, The Lewes Pound - the group which had run the scheme since 2008, announced it would be coming to an end after they were unable to find people to take it over.

Those with Lewes pounds had until Sunday to spend them, after which the notes expired.

Susan Murray, a director of The Lewes Pound, said: "It started as a way to support local independent businesses and we haven't really been able to measure that. We feel in the end it's probably only had a small impact.

"But we extended it beyond that, into celebrating Lewes and I think it's been quite successful in that respect."

In the past eight years, £12,700 worth of Lewes pounds were donated to people using foodbanks.

The Lewes Pound is donating its £10,000 reserves to charities tackling climate, energy and environmental issues - The Climate Hub, Lewes Friday Food Market and Common Cause.

A thermal imaging camera has been donated to Ovesco, Lewes's community energy company.

Lots of people were "incredibly proud" of their independent currency, even if they never used one, Ms Murray said.

"If we were going to continue, we'd have had to produce another issue which would run for five years like the last ones," she said.

"That was a long time to carry on, we felt, and we didn't have much left to give."