STAFF at a Kidderminster bank invited customers to help celebrate 75 years of trade in the town.

Visitors to NatWest, in High Street, were greeted by workers wearing period clothing and female staff dressed up as men, with moustaches and ties, to mark the branch's anniversary.

Decorations were put up in the banking hall and customers were treated to champagne and birthday cake.

NatWest, which used to be named the National Provincial, opened on July 17, 1930, in the High Street premises previously occupied by the Lion Hotel.

The branch's first manager was Mr D T King and the bank moved to its current site in 1966, as part of town centre redevelopment plans.

Branch manager, Becki Blaynee, who has worked at the bank for 11 months, said the decision to dress up was made by customers, as it would have been mostly men working in the banking hall, 75 years ago.

She added: "It was predominantly men in the front line and women in the back office.

"We asked customers for their ideas and that was one of the ideas they came up with. It was something a bit different.

"Our customers have really enjoyed the fact that we are celebrating - it is the lighter side of banking.

"NatWest sees Kidderminster as an important banking community and it is important for us to celebrate 75 years."