A MARKET town is set to be left without a bank after its final high street branch announced its closure.

HSBC is the latest bank to announce its closure in Kington following Barclays recently closing its doors.

The High Street store will close on February 10.

Emma Hancocks, Chairman of Kington Chamber of Trade, said that shop owners are 'angry' about the decision and have met with the town council to discuss objection plans.

She said: "It's going to have a huge impact on trade but most importantly our vulnerable members of our community are going to be effected the most.

"We have several things planned; we are encouraging all customers and small businesses to write a letter to HSBC and also to our local MP, we will be arranging a meeting with HSBC and we will work very hard to fight to keep the bank open.

"For those people who are unable to use the internet or have access to the internet and wanted to do face-to-face banking would either have to travel to Leominster or Hereford.

"Those people who are unable to drive wouldn't be able to get to Leominster easily and so Hereford would then be the next option; this would involve a two hour bus journey at a cost just to pay some money in which is a massive inconvenience."

HSBC has advised its customers to use an alternative branch 12 miles away in Knighton.

Bosses say that the closure follows a 40 per cent footfall in regional branches over the last five years.

A new partnership with the Post Office will allow customers to carry out day to day banking tasks at the Kington branch.

Megan Jones who uses the HSBC bank in Kington every week said that its closure would 'rip the heart out of the community' and withdraw a much needed cash machine.

She added: "It is a classic example of big London-based companies treating rural communities with complete and utter contempt.

“I don’t drive. I don’t have a computer. I think it is going to cause an awful lot of worry and upset to people.

"A lot of businesses in the town are on the edge now and it could well be a death knell.”

Mrs Jones said an alternative cash machine at the Co-op is temperamental and the one at the garage at Headbrook is currently covered by building work.