CUSTOMERS in a County Durham village have been flocking to support a bank, after financial multinational Santander stepped in to save the community service.

The Halifax branch based in Peter Clark Estate Agents, Ferryhill, was one of the outlets axed last year when owner HBOS undertook a nationwide closure programme.

Attracting Santander to the site has saved jobs in the village and ensured customers have a major high street banking service on their doorstep.

Peter Clark said: “We had a successful Halifax agency which we ran for six years. It was a vital part of the community because in Ferryhill we only have a couple of banks left.

“We fought very hard to get Santander on board to save jobs in the village and to prevent a vital banking facility from disappearing off the map.

“We are delighted with the way that it has gone, because so many of our former customers and lots of new ones have opened accounts to support us.”