THE last bank branches in two towns are set to close sparking concern from community leaders.

Lloyds has announced it will close its Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle branches in May.

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Councillors have received several complaints from people in the area about the closures after notices were put up in the windows.

Cllr Noordad Aziz, who represents Great Harwood on Hyndburn Council, said: “The bank closing will be a great loss to residents and it will mean that the town will no longer have any dedicated, high-street banking facilities.

“Obviously there’s been a lack of footfall and they might not be viable anymore, but I’ve had a lot of complaints from people in the area.

“It will have a real impact on those residents who will now have to travel to do their banking.

“I am particularly worried about my elderly residents who relied on the Lloyds branch.”

The Great Harwood branch in Queen Street will close on Monday, May 22, and Oswaldtwistle’s Union Road branch will shut two days later on May 24.

The bank has already informed staff and customers about the decision.

Cllr Peter Britcliffe, who represents Oswaldtwistle on Hyndburn Council, said: “I think it’s a major blow to the town to lose its last bank.

“It’s a blow for businesses on the road who bank there and also residents who will lose the cash points there.”

Following the closures, the next closest branches will be in Peel Street, Accrington and in Church Street, Blackburn.

People will also be able to carry out face to face banking at post offices. The closures are part of Lloyds’ plans, announced in October 2014, to close 200 branches by the end of 2017.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said he was concerned with the closures and planned to look into why the decision was made.

He said: “I am very disappointed to hear that Lloyds have decided to close branches in the constituency.

“In rural areas with older populations, people still rely on their local branch for advice about mortgages and personal finance.

“The closure of these branches will therefore be a loss to customers and employees alike.”

“I will be meeting with Lloyds as soon as possible to establish the reasons for the decision.”

Lloyds confirmed the closures will take place but was unavailable to comment in more detail yesterday.