'Disgrace' as composer Elgar dropped from £20 bank notes

The Bank of England's decision to drop the creator of Land Of Hope and Glory from legal tender in Britain means artists are no longer represented on any notes.

Perhaps fittingly in these austere times, the note which replaced the old Elgar one features an economist, the 18th Century pioneer Adam Smith.

A professor in the Department of Music at Durham University, Jeremy Dibble, said the decision showed how little we thought of cultural giants.

"The withdrawal of the Sir Edward Elgar 20 note is a national disgrace as the arts will no longer be visible on our notes," he said.

"Land Of Hope and Glory is one of the most stirring tunes ever composed and its composer, Edward Elgar, is an iconic figure and a fitting symbol of artistic inspiration in England. Bank notes should applaud the greatest aspects of England and English culture."

The William Shakespeare version of the 20 note was dropped in 1993.

Depicted on the 5 note is 19th century social reformer Elizabeth Fry. Naturalist Charles Darwin appears on the 10 note and Sir Charles Houblon, the first Bank of England governor, features on the 50 note.