Barclays has said it will shut its Borough Green branch, leaving residents without a bank.

After 51 years in the village, the Station Road site will close its doors on December 1, having become the latest victim of widespread cuts by the lender.

Staff will be offered positions in other areas.

NatWest axed its High Street branch in June, meaning residents will now face a trip of at least 10 miles to Sevenoaks, Tonbridge or Larkfield to speak with a cashier.

The shock move was first revealed by MP for Tonbridge and Malling, Tom Tugendhat, who says he is dismayed and disappointed.

He said: “This is a particular blow considering that in February last year Barclays said to me, in writing, that they “remain acutely aware of the sensitivities of closing branches where we are the last in town.”

"It seems their awareness is not matched by their concern for the impact this will have on many in this important village."

“I shall be consulting widely with the community and would be keen to hear from the thousands of people who will be affected by this. I am sure I am not alone in being deeply disappointed by this decision."

Mike Taylor, chairman of Borough Green's parish council, said he is 'very, very angry' about the decision, given his belief many locals had moved from NatWest to Barclays because it still maintained a branch.

"We know banks are suffering from loss of footfall," he said. "But they are definitely not suffering from a loss of business. We have to have somewhere people can go to pay money and speak to their friendly local banker.

"We have noticed a drop in footfall since the last bank closed and I have spoken to other shop keepers and they are all seeing the same thing." - Russell Yeoell, owner of The Secret Garden

"I would have liked to have seen NatWest and Barclays have a combined shared branch, it would have been sustainable."

Barclays will have shut almost 70 branches across the country by the end of the year, including Cranbrook 's Stone Street branch and Farningham, near Sevenoaks as it seeks to dramatically cut costs.

Will Dixon, community banking director for Barclays, said Borough Green's branch's footfall had declined by 7% in the last year alone with more customers switching to online, mobile or telephone banking.

He said: "We hope that the availability of the branches in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, and Larkfield, and access to services at the nearby Post Office in Borough Green High Street, along with our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers.”

Russell Yeoell, who runs The Secret Garden shop in High Street, said the loss of another bank would have a big impact on many older people who don't drive and come into Borough Green to speak to a cashier.

He said: "This is just another nail in the coffin of the high street. It was bad enough the NatWest closing, though they did keep the cash point.

"It is just another reason for people to not come into the village. We have noticed a drop in footfall since the last bank closed and I have spoken to other shop keepers and they are all seeing the same thing."