A Cumbrian vegan campaigner is claiming victory after meeting Bank of England bosses to discuss the use of animal fat in £5 notes.

Doug Maw, 47, from Askin Street, Keswick, started a petition last year protesting against the inclusion of tallow in the new plastic-coated notes, the polymer for which is made by Wigton-based Innovia.

It followed a furious reaction from vegetarian, vegans and members of some religions that the new notes contain the suet derivative. The petition attracted more than 130,000 signatures.

Mr Maw, who has been a vegan for two decades, took his case directly to Victoria Cleland, the Bank's director for banknotes and chief cashier, yesterday at its headquarters in London.

He told the News & Star afterwards: "I was very pleased they had invited me and they are taking it seriously and willing to meet me at such a high level."

Mr Maw said the Bank is now investigating alternatives to tallow, but accepted it may take some time before one of these is viable to put into circulation.

He went to the meeting with a representative from the National Council of Hindu Temples - Hindus are forbidden from touching beef products - who pointed out it was wrong to force followers from the religion to handle the notes and claimed it could result in legal action.

Mr Maw added: "I went in there with no expectations and I was just over the moon that they were taking it so seriously."

He now plans to change his campaigning focus to three different areas.

These are: putting signs up at cash dispensers saying that the notes contain animal products; making sure people who refuse to handle them do not suffer disciplinary action; and protecting businesses and other organisations which refuse to handle them from prosecution.

"This morning a machine on the Tube gave me a new £5 note, what was I supposed to do?" he asked.

A Bank of England spokeswoman said: "We’re grateful to the representatives from a number of communities that have given up their time to share their views on the issue of animal-derived products in our new £5 note.

"These private meetings are a valuable part of our process for deciding a way forward and we intend to update the public in due course."

Tallow is derived from animal fats and is widely used in the manufacture of candles and soap.