It’s all change for the ten-pound note as the Bank of England announces that it is to withdraw from circulation the older style £10 notes featuring a portrait of Charles Dickens.

The new style £10 note with a portrait of the other Charlie, celebrated pioneer of evolutionary theory, Charles Darwin has enhanced security features and will remain in circulation.

The 135 million Charles Dickens notes currently being used will cease to be legal tender after July 31 and after then will not be widely accepted in retail outlets.

Most banks, building societies, and Post Offices will continue to accept the Dickens £10 notes for several months after the end of July. However, this will be at the discretion of the individual institution.

As with all old Bank of England notes, the Dickens £10 notes will remain payable forever at the Bank of England.

The banknotes currently in issue consist of:

• Two versions of a £5 note one featuring George Stephenson and a new one featuring Elizabeth Fry.
• Two versions of a £10 note, one featuring Charles Dickens and a new one featuring Charles Darwin.
• A £20 note featuring Sir Edward Elgar.
• A £50 note featuring Sir John Houblon, the first Governor of the Bank of England.

The older style £20 note, featuring Michael Faraday, was withdrawn from circulation in February 2001 so it is rare for banks and building societies to continue to accept these notes for exchange or credit to customer accounts. However, these notes, as with all old Bank of England notes, remain payable at face value at the Bank of England for all time.