IT'S a familiar scenario -- last orders has been called at the bar and the person buying the drinks pleads poverty and escapes their round.

All that is about change now that cash machines are being installed in pubs and clubs.

Cash machine provider NCR has produced a new machine, which is the size of a supermarket till and can be bolted to a wall or counter, in a bid to meet the growing demand for easy access to cash.

Research carried out for the company found that one in four people would like to see cashpoints set up at car boot sales, while nearly half want access to their money while they are out drinking in pubs, clubs and bars.

Three out of 10 of those interviewed also said they would like to be able to withdraw cash at sports and music events.

Utopia nightclub in Blackburn has a cash machine and boozers in Burnley are already fortunate enough to have a cash machine in at least one of their hostelries. Drinkers at the Dugdale Arms in Dugdale Road have been able to withdraw cash from the tap room for the past month.

And according to landlord Martin Mulrooney his regulars think that the machine is a credit to the pub. He said: "It's very well used by my customers, particularly in mid-session."

Not only is the machine a life-saver for his regular customers, according to Martin it is also attracting new clientele.

"It attracts people from other pubs who are probably thinking that it's easier to use the machine in here or walk to the nearest one in the street," he added.

Roger Bracken, director of NCR's UK financial solutions division, said: "Cash machines have already spread from banks to stores, and this research highlights the huge demand from consumers for ready access to their cash in many more locations."