Residents with an NEC card can have sQuid eMoney added to their card to allow them to pay for small value items, as well as access public services, like concessionary travel and library membership.

The sQuid payment service is a quick and simple process and allows users to pay for things electronically at participating outlets from a pre-loaded purse on their card, without the need to carry loose change. The transactions are fast, secure and can be managed from an online sQuid account.

Launching the sQuid card at Bellshill Cultural Centre, Council Depute Leader, Councillor Jim Smith said: "sQuid will be very useful for many people, including older people who can use their concessionary travel card to get to their town centre and don't have to carry cash to buy small items of shopping. For young people, they will be able to use it to buy a snack, or their lunch. This is just the start. We expect sQuid to roll out and become part of everyday life in North Lanarkshire as more retailers start to accept it.

"sQuid is free to get and free to use. We're encouraging North Lanarkshire residents to sign up now and have your electronic purse ready."

There are already 85,000 National Entitlement Card holders across North Lanarkshire, including all secondary schools pupils and senior citizens who have a concessionary travel pass.

Anyone signing up for a new NEC will automatically have sQuid on their card, and existing card holders can have sQuid added at their local library or First Stop Shop, where they can also top up their cards with cash.

sQuid was piloted in Dundee and has already been launched in Dumfries and Galloway. North Lanarkshire is the next area to be part of the sQuid initiative.