Oh no its the euro!

The new single currency coins and notes are not here yet but they are heading this way.

This means it's all change for anyone planning to travel to Europe.

And, speaking of change, now is the time to check on any foreign coins which may be lurking in your home.

You have only a few weeks left to delve down the back of the sofa, fish around among the fluff under the bed and crack open your piggy banks to see what 'old money' you can find.

For the pesetas, francs, guilders, drachmas and lire you never got around to spending on holiday and put away for your next trip, will soon be worthless.

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain will introduce euro notes and coins on January 1 to replace their national currencies.

All goods in shops will be priced in euros as well as their 'old' currency. Customers will be given their change in euro coins and notes.

If you intend visiting any of the 12 destinations in the eurozone, and plan to take your old currency with you, go before the end of February, you will still have the chance to spend it. The 'old' and euro currencies will be used side by side for a few weeks.

Travel agent Felton Travel in High Street, Barkingside, is advising clients travelling to countries in the eurozone to change their money into euros as soon as possible.

Company director Pauline deSalvo said: "We have been telling our clients they will need to change their money into euros before they travel."

She is also advising customers to make sure they use up any old coins and notes before the end of February.

"Using the euro should be easier for people as they will not need to change notes as they move from one country to another. The same euro note can be used in any of the 12 countries," Mrs DeSalvo added.

Charities are expecting to benefit from the currency change as old foreign notes and coins will still be extremely collectable items, particularly after the deadline.

Barnardo's is one charity which anticipates an increase in donations to the collection boxes once the 'old' money is no longer legal tender.

A spokesman for the Barkingside-based charity said: "This is good news for us and for charities in general. Once the February deadline has passed we will be very happy to accept all unwanted foreign coins.

"Charities have an arrangement with the banks which means we will still be able to exchange them for cash.

"Drachmas, guilders, escudos and all other currencies can be handed in at any Barnardo's charity shop or taken to the head office in Tanners Lane."

Use it don't lose it" is the message from Barclays Bank which is advising customers to make sure they get their moneys worth by exchanging their old coins as soon as possible.

A Barclays spokesman said: "The branches in Wanstead, South Woodford, Woodford Broadway and Barkingside have already initiated a coin collection.

"We will take coins and notes after the deadline, but this can be time consuming and more costly for customers, as currency has to be sent to the central bank in the country of origin to be changed.

"We recommend travellers take a mix of cash in sterling, euro and sterling travellers cheques, Connect of Visa Electron cards for use at cash machines throughout the eurozone, and debit and credit cards for paying for items in shops and restaurants."

Although the UK, Denmark and Sweden are members of the European Union they are not part of the euro area.

The Foreign Office is advising travellers to:

take existing currencies for trips up until the deadline dates

check your change where a country has both old currency and the euro to make sure you know which one is being used

check whether credit/debit card transaction slips are in euro or the national currency to avoid being charged the wrong amount. Your account will be debited with the sterling equivalent spent in euros.

remember, the exchange rates for sterling and euros are not fixed and will vary just as the pound did against other currencies.

Further information on the euro and travel advice is available on the Foreign Office websites on www.euro.gov.uk and www.fco.gov.uk