The streets — of America or the City of London — are paved with gold, or so they say. That assertion is questionable, particularly this week, given economic uncertainty that has raised questions over the possibility of recession and market volatility that has wiped billions off the value of the world’s largest companies.

But, apparently, Britain’s streets ARE littered with hard cash. According to a poll of 4,562 people by personal finance Web site Fool.co.uk, the average person pockets 3.80 pounds per year from picking up pennies from the street. It doesn’t sound like much, but, across Britain, this equates to a potential 186 million pounds per year.

For many people, though, a lone penny is not enough to make them stop and stoop. A tenth of those surveyed would not make the effort for less than 10 pence, and 7 percent would not pick up anything less than one pound. Londoners, perhaps unsurprisingly, have the clearest idea of what their effort is worth. Just 41 percent would bother to bend to pick up a lucky penny, compared to a high of 70 percent in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Those in the capital also have the fewest scruples. Eight out of 10 confess to keeping what they find. In contrast, one in four Northern Irish will do their best to get 5 pounds or more back to its rightful owner.

If bearish economic predictions ring true, combing the streets for cash — and relinquishing all scruples about keeping the find — might rise in popularity. But, while few would believe that streets anywhere in the world are paved with actual gold, another old adage might hold greater truth.

Manage to save just 3.80 pounds per day and the money would grow into 1,429 pounds in just one year if stashed in a high-interest savings account paying 6 percent: look after the pennies, and the pounds, indeed, will look after themselves.