In this section we look at cheques - what is printed on them and what you have to write. This section links with the Useful tools section, where you can see a cheque being written out.

There is a lot of information on a cheque, much of it useful to you - like your bank sort code, your account number and the cheque number.

Take a look at this cheque - you can move over it for a description of each important item.

Warning: It is important to always remember to put a line to the end of part completed lines on your cheque, this avoids anyone making additions to the amounts.

It can be difficult writing a cheque in the shop with someone watching and a long queue of shoppers behind you! So, practise writing a cheque at home until you feel confident.

Activity: Below is a blank cheque. Try writing out the cheque with the information given below. Don't forget to sign it! We have filled in the cheque stub for you as an example. Remember to do this yourself when you write a real cheque. Type the information into the blanks as each new cheque is presented. An example is given first.

• The first cheque is to Woolworths for £6.50, dated 03/11/03.

• Then a cheque to Mr A.Khan for £25.00, dated 22/01/03.

• Finally, a cheque to Kirby and West Dairy for £12.95, dated 11/02/03.

Warning: It is important to always remember to put a line to the end of part completed lines on your cheque, this avoids anyone making additions to the amounts.

Of course, in a shop or restaurant you won't be typing, you will be writing a cheque. So you may wish to practise writing out cheques. Press the icon on the left to print out a sheet of three blank cheques for you to practise writing your own cheques.