A money-printing company has been awarded for a design aimed at tackling fake bank notes.

De La Rue, which runs the Bank of England press works in Langston Road, Debden, has been given the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for the design, which uses a see-through thread in bank notes.

It says 10 countries including Gibraltar, Bermuda and Kazakhstan have started using the anti-fraud notes.

Chief executive Tim Cobbold said: “De La Rue is very proud and honoured to receive this Queen’s Award, which reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation.”