A Lowestoft Tesco in the only one in Norfolk and Suffolk not to accept new pound coins in its self-service machine - the supermarket giants claim.

Eastern Daily Press: The new �1 coin featuring a rose, leek, thistle and shamrock emerging from a Royal Coronet, based on a design by 15-year-old David Pearce from Walsall. Picture: The Royal MintThe new �1 coin featuring a rose, leek, thistle and shamrock emerging from a Royal Coronet, based on a design by 15-year-old David Pearce from Walsall. Picture: The Royal Mint

Despite the coins having been in circulation since March 28, the self-service machines in London Road North Metro store still only accept old versions of the £1 coin.

With the former coins set to cease to be legal tender in less than a month, the store now faces a race against time to have the machines ready to accept the new versions.

A Tesco spokesman said: 'We're arranging to upgrade the self-service checkouts in our Lowestoft Metro store and hope to have this completed shortly. We have signage in place to advise customers in the meantime, and they are welcome to pay using new coins at our manned checkouts.'

The spokesman claimed this is an isolated case and the store is the only one in Norfolk and Suffolk not to accept the new coins, making it the last to be upgraded.

Old pound coins lose its legal tender status at midnight on Sunday, October 15, though they will still be able to be deposited into accounts at most high street banks.