A BUILDING society has announced it is to close its branch in a North Yorkshire market town.

The Leyburn branch of the Darlington Building Society will shut in April.

The society blames the decision on a dwindling number of customers.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Demand for the services offered in Leyburn from a small number of customers has dwindled over time, leaving the society little choice but to close the agency.

"Any customers wishing to maintain an account relationship with Darlington Building Society will be encouraged to either deal with the society by post, or visit one of the society's 13 branches throughout the region, the nearest of which is Northallerton.

The building society, which closed its Richmond branch five years ago, said the Leyburn agency would close on April 7.