Confusion rates are high

If staff working at the Bureaux de Change at Waterloo International were hoping for a quiet day after the New Year excess, they were to prove sorely disappointed.

Their tills, serving Eurostar customers, were ringing throughout the day as hundreds queued to change their money into euros before boarding trains.

Others, arriving from Brussels and Paris, were anxious to rid themselves of francs in return for crisp new euro notes or plain old sterling.

Most English passengers seemed to have realised the euro was officially with us, although confusion, particularly over rates of exchange, remained high.

David Breuer-Weil, from Hampstead, was returning from a family holiday in

Brussels and said he had received change from francs in euros. "As an artist, I think the notes don't have much character."

Students Michael Story, 17, and James Jagger, 17, from Westminster, were on their way to go ice boating in Stockholm via Brussels. James said: "You always have to change money when you go abroad, so nothing changes there."

Emma Densley, 29, returning from Brussels with her boyfriend, said: "I did not have a clue when the waiter gave me my change from a cup of coffee in euros. "

Johanna Lewis, 29, and her boyfriend, Grant Attwell, 26, had just arrived back from visiting relatives in Calais. Johanna said: "It was pandemonium, complete chaos. Many people did not seem to realise that you can still use the old currency for a few weeks and are trying to get rid of their francs now."

Dutchman Erik de Landmeter and his wife Theodora were returning to their Brussels home. Mr de Landmeter said: "For us it is fantastic that the euro is finally here. It is a shame that Britain does not have it - I think that could put some people off coming here." He said their nine-year-old daughter Nikki was excited about receiving her pocket money in euros.