WINCHESTER has been chosen as the location for the unveiling of the new ten pound note.

The Bank of England has announced that the note which will feature Jane Austen will be on show for the first time at Winchester Cathedral on July 18.

The unveiling comes at the same time when there are events in Hampshire to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the author's death.

This event will be the first opportunity the public have to see the new notes and learn about their features ahead of them entering circulation in September. Bank of England staff will be on hand until 5pm to allow visitors to handle the new notes.

Jane Austen joins Sir Winston Churchill, Adam Smith and Matthew Boulton and James Watt in showcasing British culture on the circulating Bank of England banknotes.

It was announced by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney in 2013.

At the time he said: “Jane Austen certainly merits a place in the select group of historical figures to appear on our banknotes. Her novels have an enduring and universal appeal and she is recognised as one of the greatest writers in English literature.

"As Austen joins Adam Smith, Boulton and Watt, and in future, Churchill, our notes will celebrate a diverse range of individuals who have contributed in a wide range of fields.”

The Austen note will be issued as a £10 note printed on polymer in September 2017.

The news comes after a new £1 coin and a new £5 note have also recently been developed.