BRITISH Gas is set to give gas stamps the boot.

The company has written to 60,000 customers who still pay with stamps to tell them that the system will end on October 1.

Instead, they will be sent new payment cards, which they can use at post offices where they have been buying their stamps or at 9,000 Paypoints around the country.

British Gas spokesman Gideon Fireman said: "Sales of gas stamps have been falling steadily over the past few months as we have been making people aware of the changes.

"We believe that most people know that they won't be able to buy stamps after October 1, but we want to make sure no one is left in the lurch."

Mr Fireman said paying with the new card was more secure as every payment was recorded. If a card was lost or stolen, British Gas would simply send out another one.

Under the new system, customers can pay any amount they like as often as they like on to their account using the new card.

Bills are sent quarterly as normal and the payments made on the card are shown as credits.

Gas stamps were introduced as an alternative to coin meters and became popular in the 1980s when people would buy them along with TV licence stamps. But sales levels have declined by more than 50% since 1997.