COLCHESTER is ready to take the new £1 coins which have come into circulation.

More than three million of the new coins are being produced each day at the Royal Mint, in Llantrisant, South Wales.

The old, round coin can continue to be used until they cease to be legal tender on October 16.

The new coin has a range of new features which are designed to make it harder to copy.

It is believed one in 30 of the old £1 coins is a fake which prompted the Royal Mint to take action.

The new coin has 12 sides and boasts high-tech features including a hologram to make it the most secure coin in the world.

Colchester Council began its preparations for the switch over months in advance.

It has spent more than £7,000 making sure parking meters and other coin operated machines such as leisure centre lockers are ready for the new coin.

All 70 of the borough’s parking machines have been upgraded to allow users to spend the new £1 coin, with each machine costing more than £100 to update.

People parking in the area will be able to use the old coins as well.

They will be accepted by the parking meters until they are no longer classed as legal tender in October.

Other areas of business in Colchester have also been preparing for the change.

Leisure World Colchester is to change its lockers in order to facilitate the new coin.

However, users will have to stick to the old coin until the end of April.

A spokesman from North Essex Parking Partnership said forward planning had ensured parking metres were ready for use.

He said: “All of the 70 parking machines operating in the borough have now been converted to accept the new £1 coin.

“The cost to convert each machine was £100 per machine, and they will continue to accept the old £1 coin until it ceases to be legal tender on October 16.

“Customers will also be able to continue to use our cashless pay-by-phone system, MiPermit, as well as payment by credit and debit cards or Applepay, in car parks across the borough.”