BUSINESSES have launched a petition to save a town's last bank, with the local MP branding the closure 'deeply disappointing'.

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said Lloyds had promised her it had no plans to shut Upton's branch.

However, the company has now decided to close the branch on 15 October, due to lack of use.

Mrs Baldwin said: “I am deeply disappointed to be let down in this way by the chief executive of Lloyds, who promised me in person that he had no plans to close the branch.

“As it is the last branch in town I will hold the bank’s feet to the fire to follow the correct agreed protocol and carry out a full impact assessment on people and businesses.

“I have asked Upton Business Association to work with me to start a petition which I will leave at the library in Upton and we can send it to the chief executive.”

Annette Keyworth, chair of Upton Business Association, said: "It's disgusting. It's the last branch in town. We need it. The majority of local businesses use it.

"Okay we have the Post Office but you can't do all your banking. All the businesses need access to change and things like that.

"I know the Post Office try to accommodate as much as possible but I don't think they will be able to do so fully.

"We also need a 24-hour ATM. They [Lloyds] need to rethink it and honour the commitment to Harriett Baldwin.

"The generation in this town are the older generation, they don't do internet banking."

Mrs Keyworth hopes to gather between 300 and 400 signatures in the town.

She added that the nearest branch is in Tewkesbury, which is too far away for businesses.

A Lloyds spokesman said: "We have made the difficult decision to close the Lloyds Upton branch in October 2018 due to the changing ways customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted in the branch being used less often.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and will be speaking to customers about the new mobile branch service, which will be on the road before the branch closes, as well as their nearest alternative branch, which is Tewkesbury.

"The new mobile branch service will provide a vital service to the Upton area, by giving customers access to everyday banking services such as making deposits, withdrawing cash and paying bills.

“Customers can also continue to access their banking locally by visiting the nearby Post Office, which is a short walk from the branch.”

Upton's Lloyds branch currently opens three days a week.

The paper petition will be available in shops around Upton.