RESIDENTS in some parts of Rossendale have no free cash machine within 1km from their homes, a survey has revealed.

Link, the UK cash machine network, has announced the 269 low-income areas across the country with no free ATM inside a 1km radius.

And two areas between Bacup and Waterfoot have been defined as Financial Inclusion Areas.

These are defined as deprived areas that have limited free access to cash.

The first area includes Tunstead Road, part of Booth Road, Brandwood Road, Four Lane Ends Road and part of Newchurch Road.

The second area covers Cuttler Lane, Greens Lane, Unsworth Street and Acre Avenue.

In the north west there were 41 areas identified as having outstanding problems with access to cash.

Link is now asking residents to make them aware of any other problem areas, or any suitable locations for a free to use ATM in Rossendale.

A spokesman for Link said: “Since 2006, Link has run a Financial Inclusion Programme to support the installation of free cash machines in areas where there is limited free access to cash. We are working closely with consumer groups, MPs, the banking community and ATM operators to identify the areas that need them and to get the ATMs installed. “So far through this programme, we have facilitated the installation of free cash machines in over 80 per cent of the identified problem areas.

“This is an ongoing process and we encourage the public to inform us if they know of a suitable location for an ATM, via our web site.

“There is still more that can be done to increase free access to cash and we will continue to promote our Financial Inclusion Programme to enable the remaining areas to get the free-to-use ATMs that they need.”

To check on ATM coverage, can use the interactive map at link.co.uk/Cardholders/free accesstocash/Pages/FinancialInclusion.aspx To provide feedback or suggest a site for an ATM, go to link.co.uk/Cardholders/Suggest ASite/Pages/CustomerSite Suggestion.aspx