A Newcastle Emlyn hairdresser is up arms following news the Lloyds Bank branch in the town will be closed every Thursday from August 18.

With the recent closure of HSBC in the town, banking is already limited and the announcement of reduced hours at Lloyds has increased growing concern.

Hairdresser – and Lloyds account holder - Ann Biggs has run her Talking Heads salon in the town for the past 16 years.

Ann is worried that not only will the changes impact on her own banking, but also that the reduced hours will affect her customers.

‘I see this as the beginning of a slippery slope to them closing and gradually over time, the opening days will get less,” she said.

“Banking cash as I do daily now, will mean more bank charges due to increased overdrafts and I will also have to take into account petrol time and parking costs to travel to Cardigan or Carmarthen.

“I am very concerned customers will go elsewhere to bank and shop at the same time. You only have to look at Llandysul to see the devastating result it has had on the town.”

Newcastle Emlyn mayor, Cllr Odette Little is also concerned by the changes.

‘You always see people going in to use Lloyds Bank indicating that it is busy and it’s certainly not fair on businesses,” said Cllr Little.

“It is a huge inconvenience and it doesn’t do our town any good.

“I mean what do you do with your cash takings which need to be banked – stick it under your bed until the bank opens the next day?

“Businesses will suffer from this and it is a sad situation.”

A Lloyds Bank spokesman said: ‘The way customers are choosing to bank with us is changing.

“Customers are using Newcastle Emlyn less, and we have therefore reviewed the weekly opening hours.

“We’ve made the decision to close the branch on a Thursday, which is the quietest day of the week at the branch.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The spokesman said there will be no job losses as a result of reduced hours at the branch.