AN MP has met with bank bosses to challenge their decision to close a village branch.

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, met with the head of UK regional public affairs at RBS about NatWest in Stubbington, which is to close on February 10.

Ms Dinenage asked for assurances that there would be an adequate alternative for residents and businesses.

She said NatWest bosses had stressed that bank customers would be able to access services at the post office instead.

Ms Dinenage said she understood that footfall at the venue has dropped by 32 per cent in the past five years, compared with a 232 per cent increase in online banking, leading to difficult decisions for the banks.

But she added: “I do still feel that they have a moral responsibility to support our communities.”

This follows news that NatWest is also closing its Portchester branch this month, after bosses reported that transactions had dropped by 11 per cent.

Residents and firms in Fair Oak launched a petition to save their NatWest branch from closure last summer, without success.