Barclays bank is to pull out of a third town in south Essex.

The High Street bank will close its branch in the Green, Stanford-le-Hope, it has been revealed.

The bank is also to quit Southchurch and the Laindon Centre.

It is a major blow for councillor Alphonse Nuss who has been campaigning to keep the branch open.

The Thurrock councillor picketed the branch and launched a petition in protest at the rumoured closure.

He now plans to take his petition and open letter to the bank's headquarters in London. Letters were sent out to account holders on Friday explaining the reasons behind the closure.

A Barclays bank spokesman said the branch would close its doors on Friday, April 7.

It is one of around 170 branch closures countrywide.

He said: "Things have changed in banking over the last 10 years.

"Now people can open an account and use cash machines, the internet, telephones and even their televisions.

"Although branches are still very important, it is important that we get the balance right. Branches have to be commercially viable."

He added that workers at Stanford would have the option of taking voluntary redundancy or applying for alternative positions within the bank.

Compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out.

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