Amusement arcade managers in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft have expressed their fears over plans by the government to scrap 1p and 2p coins.

The scheme poses a threat to the traditional seaside activity of children playing 2p pusher games.

The Treasury announced it will be reviewing the future of pennies, along with £50 notes, in a move to determine how useful they are.

There are strong fears it will impact on arcades as popular 2p coin pusher machines would need to move to tokens, switch to higher value coins or be scrapped.

Arcade manager Colin Brand runs the amusements at Britannia Pier, which has about 10 pushers, and expressed his concerns over the government plans to scrap 1p and 2p coins.

He said the pusher games were very popular with families buying bags of coins so children can try and win sweets, toys and key rings.

He said: 'If they get rid of 2ps, what will be the alternative? It is really going to hit us hard.'

Tony Lavett, co-manager at The South Pier Family Entertainment Centre, said: 'It would affect us massively. Children like playing on the 2p pushers. This is a big arcade, we have 12 pushers and they are big business for us.

'I suppose they may just make it for 5ps or incorporate tokens as a way around it – you can't just close a business down.

'If I owned the arcade I would be worried.'