Banking giant Lloyds has announced plans to shut another County Durham branch amid a swathe of closures.

The high street bank will close its site in Stanley on June 26 next year, it has announced.

Citing reasons for the decision Lloyds said customer transactions were down 52% at the branch compared to 2019.

It added that 76% of those who bank there had used other branches, online or telephone banking in the six months to February and that 54% of the 953 regular users of the branch were aged 55 and over.

It means the next nearest branches for Lloyds customers are in Chester-le-Street or Consett, both around six miles away.

Lloyds was the last full-time branch in Stanley, with Barclays running only a pop-up branch three days a week, with no counter services.

Following news of the closure Link has announced plans for a banking hub in the town.

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It comes as the firm also confirmed plans to shut its location in Spennymoor, leaving the County Durham town without any bank branches.

Banks have been pressing ahead with branch closures over the past few years. By the time the Stanley site closes, almost 50 sites will have closed in the last two years.

The number of people using in-person services has been falling for years as more people switch to digital banking.