Wrekin MP, Mark Pritchard, said he would fight plans to close Barclays Bank’s Newport branch.

“The large retail banks have a social as well as a business responsibility in how they conduct their business locally and nationally. Newport is already losing other banks and I will fight this closure all the way. Not everyone has access to online or mobile banking, especially those from a slightly older generation or those on low incomes”.

The MP has written to the Chief Executive of Barclays asking the bank to “reconsider its anti-rural decision”.