Fears have been raised that a decision by a top bank to pull out of Longtown could hit future developments.

Barclays will close its doors for the final time in the town in the autumn.

The company says more customers are switching to online banking or are instead choosing to use other branches.

But concerns have been raised on what impact this will have on both elderly customers and local businesses.

The bank employs two members of staff at its Bridge Street branch.

"I'm disappointed," said Ray Bloxham, who represents Longtown on Carlisle City Council.

"Longtown is expanding. I know that there are facilities available at the mart but you need more than a hole in the wall."

Mr Bloxham, who is a member of the council's development control committee, which oversees planning, added: "We're going to discuss plans for up to 200 new houses next week.

"Banks are the sort of services that will be needed by people moving to Longtown.

"We're also involved with the possible extension of the Waverley Line down from Edinburgh to Carlisle, with a stop at Longtown.

"It's difficult to campaign for this sort of investment and attract business if we don't have facilities like banks."

Mr Bloxham said the closure could also present problems for elderly residents, who prefer to do their banking in person, rather than online.

"Not everyone has access to the internet," he said.

"And in Longtown, even if you do, then it can be slow, which doesn't help.

"The other thing is that some people prefer to deal in cash, which you can't do online."

Val Tarbitt, who represents Longtown on Cumbria County Council, also said that not all customers will want to use online banking.

"That only leaves the Cumberland Building Society," she said.

"The number of banks closing across Cumbria is a problem and it means that people have to travel further to use them."

She also said online banking was not for everybody.

"Not everybody wants to put in all their personal details online," she added.

"For somewhere like Longtown, where there's quite an elderly population who still use cheques and cash - as well as businesses - then it's a concern."

A spokesman for Barclays said: "The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

"At Barclays in Longtown, customer usage has continued to decline in recent years and 60 per cent of our customers now use alternative branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it.

"We hope that the availability of our other Barclays branch at English Street, Carlisle, and access to services at the local Post Office located at 21 Swan Street, Longtown, along with our range of digital channels, will help to ease the transition for our customers."

Barclays said that the two members of staff at the branch, which is open from 9.30am until 3.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, will not face compulsory redundancy.