LEDBURY'S bank drain continues, with Lloyds announcing it will close its High Street branch on October 1, because of a considerable fall in the number of users.

Figures from an official Lloyds review state that the bank's counters in Ledbury are 25 per cent quieter than a year ago, and only 36 customers now use the branch "on a regular weekly basis".

The review states: "We have made the difficult decision to close this branch because customers are using it less often. In addition, the majority of customers are also using alternative ways to bank."

But Ledbury residents have responded to the news with concern and, in some cases anger, because this will be the third major bank to quit the market town in a little over two years. HSBC moved out in the summer of 2016 and Nat West left last June.

The closure of Lloyds in the autumn will leave just one on-street cash machine in the High Street/Homend itself - the ATM of Barclays.

And only Barclays and the TSB will remain as banks in an expanding town of 10,000 people.

Town councillor and Homend trader, Annette Crowe said: "The scarcity of ATM machines in Ledbury is a major problem. When Barclays was closed for refurbishment, the Lloyds ATM ran out of money on a Friday night.

"The ATM at Tesco's had no money and I ended up having to go to the Co-op ATM for money, in New Street."

She added: "It's unacceptable that in a town of this size we will end up with just one street ATM, outside a bank."

Susan Hepburn, writing on Facebook, added: "It’s all very well people going on about online banking but there are times when that won’t do, especially for businesses.

"The simple matter is, even younger people like contact with people.

"People need to object. If they aren’t listened to, it’s actually very straightforward to move your account."