Britain's last local currency will no longer be accepted from today after the few shops which took it as tender stopped.
The Lewes Pound was launched in the East Sussex town in 2008 following the collapse of banking titan Lehman Brothers.
The first exchange of the local currency saw the international press descend on the leafy town as customers exchanged their new notes for pints of beer at the Lewes Arms pub.
Rob Hopkins, co-founder of the network of Transition Towns, which spearheaded other local currency creations such as the Brixton Pound and Totnes Pound, said: “It was such a magical, amazing evening. It was beautiful."
The Lewes Pound was launched in the East Sussex town in 2008 following the collapse of banking titan Lehman Brothers
| PAWhen the Lewes Pound was first launched, its founders aimed for around 100 residents to adopt the quirky currency and 25 businesses to accept it as tender.
But Lewes took to its new denomination - with more than 400 people and 75 businesses going on to use it.
Although the currency's use officially comes to an end today, the decision to retire it was announced in April.
Susan Murray, a director of the Lewes Pound, said: "While this chapter is closing, the values the Lewes Pound represents - supporting local businesses, sustainability and community collaboration - will continue to thrive in Lewes."
Mr Jenner said: 'In Lewes there is always a swirl of enthusiasm around anything which is slightly off the norm and makes us stand out as being different'
|GETTY
Miles Jenner, head brewer of the local Harvey's Brewery, backed the local currency as it fostered pride in the town of Lewes and boosted local trade.
Mr Jenner said: “In Lewes there is always a swirl of enthusiasm around anything which is slightly off the norm and makes us stand out as being different. It’s entrenched in the Lewes psyche.
"I don’t think any of us thought it would change the world, but it was just something everybody got behind."
Although the currency was loved by some local vendors, others believed it to be a "nuisance".
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David Skeet, who operates the Lewes Flea Market, recalled that “the lady at the town hall who had the tin” to exchange the local cash into Sterling was often difficult to track down.
Mr Skeet said: “It was a little bit haphazard. I don’t have anything bad to say about it though, I like the idea of the initiative.”
The Lewes Pound was used in a donate-a-drink scheme at the Lewes Depot Cinema, where customers would buy a drink at over-the-odds prices, with the cash given in local currency to food bank users in the area.
The town's former Mayor Susan Murray said: “I always remember one lady said for the first time ever she’d been able to go into the local bookshop and buy books for her grandchildren for Christmas."
The remainder of the backing funds, around £10,000, will be distributed to four different local initiatives, including the Lewes Climate Hub and the Friday Food Market.
Ashley Price, the president of the Lewes Chamber of Commerce, said he was "sad" to see the currency's run come to an end.
Mr Price said: "When Lewes Pound was launched it was an innovative idea because it encouraged people to support Lewes' economy when they were visiting the town, rather than go to Brighton and Eastbourne.
"However, fewer people are using the Lewes Pound in later years because there has been less footfall to the town."