Bumblebees, dolphins and puffins could feature on future banknotes

Imagine pulling a banknote out of your pocket and seeing a frog, hedgehog or butterfly looking back at you.

People across the UK are being asked to help choose which animals, birds and insects might appear on future Bank of England notes.

Eighteen creatures have been shortlisted and could replace historical characters on the next series of £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes.

Wildlife already appears on banknotes in other parts of the UK, with red squirrels, mackerel and otters featuring on notes issued by the Bank of Scotland.

Last year it was revealed that banknotes produced by the Bank of England were to get their first major redesign in more than 50 years - and they asked for the public's help.

44,000 people had their say on what themes and images they'd like to see on their notes.

The majority of people picked nature as their preferred theme.

As a result, the Bank of England announced they would come up with a shortlist of wildlife, from birds to animals, so they could put a vote to the public in summer.

They have now chosen 18 species from around the UK that could appear on future £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.

The animals have been split into three groups:

Mammals - Bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten, red fox.

Birds - Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker, white-tailed eagle.

Insects, fish and amphibians - Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly, marsh fritillary butterfly.

People can vote for up to six of their favourite creatures before votes close next month.

However, it will be down to the Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, to make the final decision.

The next series of Bank of England notes will still include a portrait of the King, as well as images representing the home nations.

However, for the first time since 1970, the images on the back will no longer feature important people from history.

The decision has split opinion among some people.

Some politicians have said they are unhappy that former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill - who appears on the £5 note - could disappear from future banknotes.

But the Bank of England says that it's important to replace banknotes over time in order to stop counterfeiting.

However, it's unlikely that you will see any changes to banknotes anytime soon.

The process of designing, testing and printing the notes takes several years before they can enter circulation.