THE specially engraved £5 note worth up to £50,000 which was spent in a Gwent cafe has been found.

Scottish artist Graham Short marked four notes with a portrait of author Jane Austen and spent one at the Square Cafe on Blackwood High Street last week.

Another artist who is involved the project, Tony Huggins-Haig, said: “It’s great that one has been found so quickly. That was our hope.

“The person who found it in their change was in disbelief, and they thanked us for putting it out there. They love art and loved what Graham did, giving art back to the people, and they are keen now to pass it down through the family.”

Mr Short engraved four notes and spent one each in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is the first of the four to be found but the person who found it has asked to remain anonymous.

Each note is also engraved with a unique Jane Austen quote, with this one stating ‘a large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of’ from Mansfield Park. It has the serial number AM32 885553.

Mr Huggins-Haig added: “Even though they are not selling it, finding the art has really brightened up their Christmas and that was the whole intention. One down, three to go.”

Micro-engraver Mr Short, 70, who created the notes, said: “I’m always looking to do something different and as soon as I saw the new £5 note I thought ‘wouldn’t it be good if I could engrave something on it?’.

The artist, who is based in Birmingham regularly sells his works for upwards of £100,000.