A RESIDENTIAL care worker who claims he was given two forged £20 notes from a post office has said he will not be going back -- even though it has promised to look into the matter.

Paul Bennett works at a home for people with severe learning disabilities in Revidge Road, Blackburn and for the past 12 months he has taken 18-year-old Ryan Rhys to New Bank Road Post Office to collect his benefit. Ryan is unable to make the trip alone, because he has severe learning disabilities and has to be supervised at all times.

On Thursday they made the trip to collect £314 -- holiday money for Ryan. Paul said: "I watched them count the money, put it in an envelope and then we set off back.

"By the time I realised that the two notes were forged, I knew that the Post Office would be closed.

"First thing this morning we went back to tell them about the notes. I told them that when we got home we realised that two of the twenty pound notes were forgeries.

"He denied that they had come from the Post Office, but the money was put straight into an envelope and not opened until I returned home.

"I was told there was nothing I could do about it and it was not their responsibility."

Their refusal to take action has prompted Paul to make alternative arrangements for payment of residents' benefits.

He said: "We use New Bank Road Post Office every week and, in the past, we have had a good relationship, but now there is no trust any more.

"Because of what has happened, we have decided to have the money paid straight into a bank account, which will cut out the risk of it happening again.

"We go every week to the Post Office and the staff know all our residents by name.

"Some of them enjoy making the trip. It has become part of their routine -- which is important to them."

A Blackburn CID spokesman said: "Blackburn doesn't suffer a particular problem with counterfeit notes, it's about average for the country. "If you are handed a counterfeit note and you know the source -- hand it in to the police.

"If you are given one and you don't know where it came from, hand it in at any High Street bank."

A spokesman for Consignia -- the new name for the Post Office -- said: "We are sorry that Mr Bennett and Mr Rhys have experienced this problem. It is the first time anything like this has happened at this office.

"It is obviously a difficult situation for the post office as well as the customer, because money is checked for possible forgeries as it is counted out.

"However, because Mr Bennett is a regular customer, he is advised to call back at the Post Office so that staff who know him may be able to help."