TWO men have pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of pounds of counterfeit money.

Waqas Hussain, 22, and Usman Hussain, 23, the owner of Velvet Shisha Cafe, in Blackburn, admitted having fake £20 and £10 notes.

The pair, both of Downham Street, Blackburn, are set to be sentenced next month.

A third man, Mustafa Hussain, 25, of Lancaster Place, had also appeared before the courts on the same charge of having counterfeit currency with intent.

He pleaded not guilty and the crown prosecution service decided to offer no evidence in his case.

Waqas and Usman Hussain had been stopped by police in Preston, who had been informed the pair might be have fake cash.

They were found to have £200 in notes. Officers from Greater Manchester police then contacted their counterparts in Lancashire after carrying out a warrant and finding Usman in possession of a further £200.

Speaking after the hearing at Preston Crown Court, Detective Constable Andy Bleasdale, from Blackburn CID, said: “We were contacted by somebody in Glovers Court, in Preston. It was information from ticket sellers that the asian males may be in possession of fake currency.

“Police attended and a quantity of notes were sent off for examination.”

Anybody with information about fake currency should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.