Cha-ching! This London vending machine promises an end to pesky leftover foreign coin collections

World travellers may soon be able to rid themselves of stashs of useless coins and bills in random foreign currencies - even old Deutsche marks.

From Monday, commuters passing through London King’s Cross tube station will find a self-service vending machine that converts currencies from 150 countries into pounds, dollars or euros.

It is different from current automated teller machines, which dispense only a handful of major currencies, or from foreign exchange booths, which trade banknotes and but shun most foreign coins.

Two British-based, South African entrepreneurs are looking to up-end the retail foreign exchange business including major names Travelex and Thomas Cook.

Their company, Fourex, has plans to introduce its machines at busy shopping centres and transport hubs across London, including Canary Wharf tube station next month. It is looking to expand to up to 300 or 400 high-traffic locations across Britain over the next year or two.