BARCLAYS Bank is closing its Malvern Link branch on November 25 and accounts will be moved to the Great Malvern branch.

The move has been condemned as bad news by George Waugh of Age Concern, Malvern.

"From the point of view of elderly people, the Malvern Link branch is more accessible. It's not at the top of a steep hill like Edith Walk," he said.

Robin Elt, of Great Malvern Chamber of Trade, said: "It's regrettable that a clearing bank is closing a branch, but it's not surprising considering the growth of internet banking.

"There are more cashpoints around these days, in supermarkets and garages and so on, so the bank closing isn't the disaster it once would have been. But there will be people who will be inconvenienced."

Lisa Kennedy, of Bar-clays, said customers would have their accounts transferred without any effect on direct debits or standing orders.

Three of the four staff will transfer to Great Malvern and the other to a branch elsewhere in the county. The building in the Link is likely to be sold off.

The building housing the Great Malvern branch will be auctioned on Tuesday, September 20, but the bank is keeping a 999-year lease on the ground floor.