Cheques could still be saved says Payments Council

Banks have long said cheques are too expensive and difficult to process in these days of instant payments.

They want to phase them out by 2018 but this idea upset so many people that the government has set up a consultation on the plans and Friday is the final day for submissions.

Many business groups and charities, particularly those for the elderly and the vulnerable, say that cheques still have an important role and that they should be kept.

Sandra Quinn of the UK Payments Council says ''we won't get rid of cheques unless alternatives work''.