Richmond MP William Hague helped celebrate two centuries of banking in the town on Saturday.

The former Conservative leader visited Barclays to look at a new display that charts the branch's history.

Hutton Other and Co established the branch in the Market Place in 1804, although banking in Richmond dates from 1792.

The history of the subsequent amalgamation of various banks, including Barclays, is now on display at the branch, together with ledgers which were recently found and date from 1792.

Also featured are photographs of the bank and its staff through the past two centuries.

The display will last two weeks.

Mr Hague said: "Many Richmond residents will find it a fascinating part of the history of the town.

"In 1792, the French Revolution was in full swing. It is good to know that even though there was such violence across the channel, the residents of Richmond were proceeding to the bank with their deposits."

Niccola Swan, Barclays regional director, said: "To provide banking services to the people of Richmond for 200 years is quite an achievement.

"Banking has changed incredibly over the years. In 1804, deposits and withdrawals would have been recorded manually in ledgers and the thought of electronic banking and money coming out of a hole in the wall would have been utterly unimaginable."