REPRESENTATIVES from a bank which is leaving a small Dales town have been grilled by members of the local parish council over the decision.

Two members of staff from NatWest bank attended the meeting by invitation to discuss concerns raised by local people who will be left without a permanent banking outlet from the New Year.

Members said Barclays had also been invited to send a representative, after it announced closure at around the same time, but had declined to attend the meeting.

The NatWest staff - Catherine Doyle, regional director, and Heather Clough, local chief executive officer - were told there had been no consultation with customers, the community or the town's Post Office, which will now have to prepare for more requests for a variety of transactions.

They were also questioned over the operating cost of the bank, how footfall is considered - and, in light of the closure of Barclays, whether bosses would reconsider.

But Ms Doyle explained that the decision to close had been made because of falling numbers of customers attending in-branch, as well as changes to the ways customers carry out their banking.

She explained that a mobile bank will now visit Sedbergh on Mondays or Wednesdays, sited on Joss Lane car park, with an opening time of 90 minutes.

They said the bank would also maintain an ATM in the town, and would support the Post Office over the coming months.