THE mortgage and savings bank Alliance and Leicester is to close four branches in Kent with the loss of 27 jobs.

The branches affected are Bank Street, Ashford; Hythe Street, Dartford; High Street, Edenbridge; and High Street, Orpington. They are among a total of 46 branch closures across the country.

The bank said that where possible it would be looking to find alternative jobs for the Kent-based staff within the Alliance and Leicester group.

FOR FULL STORY SEE OUR BUSINESS SECTION