DWINDLING to just five regular customers, Lloyds Bank is to close its Corbridge branch on March 14.

And this week’s announcement comes just weeks after the news that the Bellingham branch will close on March 15.

In recent years the opening hours of the Corbridge branch have been drastically reduced.

Currently it only operates two mornings each week; from 9.30am to 1pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Lloyds says that the branch is earmarked for closure due to a drop in footfall, and that approximately 93 per cent of customers already use alternatives, such as the Hexham branch.

And according to the bank, the Middle Street branch has only five regular weekly personal and business customers.

Chairman of Corbridge Parish Council, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, said: “There seems to be pressure on all local bank branches at the moment but I am sad to see this one go, particularly now that Barclays in Corbridge only operates four days a week.”