Cash dispensers removed from Belgian supermarkets

Supermarkets across Belgium have been forced to remove cash machines from their premises - or face fines of up to €25,000.

New rules on the transport of money come into force on 2 January, meaning supermarkets can no longer fill up their own cash machine with notes from the shop safe.

Instead, stores are required to pay for a security firm to handle the banknotes - even if the safe and the cash machine are just a few metres apart.

Supermarket chains say they cannot afford to comply with the new regulations and have no choice but to remove their cash dispensers.

A spokeswoman for the Mestdagh Group, which runs supermarkets under the Carrefour Market brand, said: "Obviously we're not licensed as money carriers. We had to stop offering this service, or we would be fined."

She said customers would instead be able to ask for cashback from the checkout when they pay for shopping by bank card.

YourCash, which supplies the cash machines, said customers would be inconvenienced, especially in areas where bank ATMs are in short supply.