HOPES are still high for the return of a 24/7 cash machine to a Tynedale village.

Corbridge’s two banks closed within months of each other in 2017, with Lloyds’ decision to close its doors in March followed by Barclays’ announcement of its closure in November.

This left the village with no cash machine which could be accessed at any time of day, as the Co-op’s cash machine, inside the store, can only be used during opening hours.

An application for a new 24/7 cash machine outside of the Post Office was approved last year but plans to install it fell through.

At last week’s Corbridge Parish Council meeting, Coun. Sobir Ahmed raised the issue. “Nothing has been happening for over two years with the cash point,” he said.

He suggested that, due to Barclays still paying rent to the landlord of its former building, a cash point could be brought back in to use there until a new location was found.

He also said some businesses owners in the village were frustrated with the temperamental nature of the Co-op cash point, which some use on a daily basis.

Coun. Elizabeth Buckley added that she thought bringing a cash point back to the Barclays building could be a helpful short-term solution. County Councillor Nick Oliver said he was still actively looking for a location in the village where a 24/7 cash machine could be installed.