If you're one of those people who doesn't trust banks to the extent that you keep your savings under the bed, you might want to think again after reading this salutary tale – especially if you have small children.
For in China, a curious four-year-old found his parents' stash of cash – and ripped the whole lot to shreds. THREE THOUSAND POUNDS that is now only good for confetti.
The boy was left alone by his mother Liu Fan, 28, in the bedroom of their home in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, West China.
When he found the money in a box under the bed he proceeded to rip it to shreds while his parents were none-the-wiser in a room next door.
Liu Fan, 28, said: "We don't have much time for reading here. We didn't really care when he ripped up the old books we had lying around, and it was easy to buy very cheap old books down the market which he happily ripped into small pieces.
"I thought if I left him alone with a book for an hour it would be no problem and we could hear the ripping sounds from the kitchen but didn't think anything of it.
"My family told me that it was not a good idea and I now realise they were right after he found all our money and ripped it up. It was all our savings."
The family had been saving for a deposit on a new apartment, which they were going to buy in the New Year.
Thankfully, the family found a generous bank willing to match the value of the notes and exchange them for new ones. Liu Fan added that she had now put a stop to her son's destructive habit, saying: "I realise that perhaps it wasn't very sensible, I'm just very glad that the bank staff agreed to help."