Fury at bank closure

Hoteliers and restaurateurs in Britain's smallest town are furious over the threat to close down their nearest bank early next year.

Local businesses in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, fear that the likely closure of Barclays, the town's only bank, will pose serious security threats and inconvenience thousands of tourists each year.

Nigel Roff, general manager of the 59-bedroom Abernant Lake Hotel, said: "We handle a fair amount of cash and we need a banking service and a night safe facility. We are an isolated hotel on the outskirts of town, making us a prime target for robberies."

Peter James, chef-proprietor of the Drovers Rest restaurant, added that the 20-mile round trip to the nearest town with a bank would have a huge impact. "What happens if I miss a payment because I've got a function on?" he said.

The bank's area director, Gareth George, said Barclays was reviewing the viability of the Llanwrtyd Wells branch.

Closure might be averted if residents transferred other savings accounts to the bank.