A new £20 banknote celebrating Scotland's heritage has entered circulation. The new note is part of a new release of banknotes issued to celebrate the 2009 Homecoming year.

Robert the Bruce, the Scottish king who liberated Scotland from English rule, features on one side of the Clydesdale Bank's new £20 note, while the mill house in New Lanark appears on the other.

The "world heritage" collection celebrates Scotland's history, people and culture. It is the first time in more than 20 years the bank has launched a completely new set of notes. The front of each new note honours a prominent Scot, while the reverse will feature one of Scotland's five World Heritage sites.

Lynne Peacock, chief executive of Clydesdale Bank, said: "Clydesdale Bank has produced banknotes since its inception in 1838.

"In the past, the bank's notes have portrayed various Scottish landscapes and buildings but, in 1971, we broke with tradition and introduced portraits of notable Scots to the notes.

"We are pleased the new banknote family reunites the two themes of Clydesdale's banknote heritage of Scotland's important locations and people - and for them to be released during the year of the Homecoming shows how proud the bank is of its Scottish roots."

Other Scots honoured are Sir Alexander Fleming, who will appear on the new £5 note, Rober Burns on the £10 note, suffragette Elsie Inglis on the £50 and Charles Rennie Mackintosh on the £100 note.