JEFF Stuart started working in the old Bolton Evening News' time office in Mealhouse Lane for just 37s 10d a week as a lad of 16 -- but he's since quite literally made millions.

He had a lengthy career in newspaper printing here and in Yorkshire, before being head-hunted to take over a major company making bank notes.

For 15 years he worked in High Wycombe for one of the few private companies in an industry "where secrecy is obsessive" making bank notes, travellers' cheques and bonds for governments in over 100 countries.

But this experience also made him realise how easy it would be "for the wrong people to get hold of the machinery, raw materials and expertise and start printing their own money."

And that premise has been used by him to create an acclaimed book "The Men Who Bought The World"* which is actually a thriller and a love story. Its success has catapulted Jeff into the international limelight as an acknowledged expert in counterfeiting -- in the best possible way, of course.

Jeff -- a self-confessed "Bolton lad at heart" despite living in rural Buckinghamshire these days -- is now very concerned about the future of the euro.

"I've been trying to forewarn anyone who will listen on the dangers of mass-counterfeiting of the euro," explained Jeff, 56.

"The trouble is, it's gone so far along the line now that no-one wants to admit the danger, or take the awful decision to do something about it."

All of which means, funnily enough, that the theme of Jeff's book is now more relevant than ever!

"The Men Who Bought The World" by Jeff Stuart, published by Hamilton at £6.99.