SHOPPERS will be fuming at the planned closure of Barclays Bank's Cathedral branch in Worcester, an angry account holder warns.

The bank on College Street will close on Friday, November 23, and all the accounts and services will be transferred to the Barclays branch on the High Street.

One account holder, who was given the news in a letter plugging on-line banking, supermarket cashback facilities and Alliance & Leicester and NatWest cashpoints, is furious.

"Barclays is still continuing with its unpopular branch closure programme, despite much bad publicity over the past year or two," said the customer, who did not wish to be named.

"I'm sure that this action will upset and inconvenience quite a number of bank customers from Worcester and the surrounding area."

Barclays, which closed its Barbourne branch in the early 1990s, insists the merger will provide its customers with a better standard of service.

It also promised there would be no job losses.

"Because the branches are within about 200 yards of each other we just thought it would be better putting all our resources into the High Street to create a better branch and a better service," said a bank spokeswoman.

Barclays said the number of transactions at the High Street branch last year topped 75,000. The College Street site processed just 12,000.

"The High Street is clearly the one people are using the most," said the spokeswoman.

"We will be investing in the High Street branch to refurbish it and brighten it up.

"All the staff at the Cathedral branch will be dispersed to other branches in the surrounding area."

Customers were also assured all standing orders, direct debits and payments would not be affected. PIN numbers and bank account numbers would stay the same.

Barclays will keep its branch on Malvern Road, St John's.