SHOPPERS who use new coin converter machines at supermarkets have been assured they can do so with confidence in County Durham.

The American Coinstar machine takes unsorted change and converts it into a voucher to be exchanged immediately for cash or shopping at supermarket checkouts.

Consumer watchdogs at Durham County Council tested two machines at the Asda store in Spennymoor and the Durham branch of Sainsbury's, and gave them both the stamp of approval.

County council consumer services head Phillip Holman said: "Consumer services is responsible for testing the accuracy of most weighing and measuring equipment in trade use. People may be familiar with the regular testing we carry out on petrol pumps, shop scales and beer meters. But we are always keen to carry out similar checks on any new types of equipment."

He said the two machines were tested to ensure they accurately counted a variety of coinage and charged the appropriate fee.

Mr Holman said: "Despite the high speed at which these machines were found to operate, they were both very accurate and no errors were found."

Unsorted change poured into the machine can be counted at up to 600 coins a minute.

The number and denomination of coins counted along with a running cash total are displayed.

A fee, typically 7.5 per cent, is deducted from the cash total and a voucher printed.

There are 9,000 machines in use in the US and more than 320 in supermarkets in this country.

County council deputy leader Councillor Don Ross said: "I'm pleased with the results of these tests. It is reassuring to know that the machines, which clearly offer a useful service, can be relied on to function correctly."