Royal Bank of Scotland has granted a reprieve to its closure-threatened Gretna branch.

But outlets in Annan, Langholm and Lockerbie are still to shut.

The decision over Gretna comes just over two months after the RBS group announced plans to close 259 of its premises across the UK.

When the state-owned bank announced the closure programme in December 2017, it had insisted it was responding to changes in customer behaviour, including a rise in online banking.

Jane Howard, managing director for personal banking, said bosses had now reconsidered this as "we are committed to ensuring our customers and communities are able to continue accessing quality banking services".

She stated: "Having listened to the concerns of customers, communities and elected representatives from all political parties, we have decided to keep 10 branches open until the end of 2018.

"During this period we will monitor the level of transactions and new income at each branch, and if there is a sustained and viable increase in both then we will reconsider the closure of the relevant branch as part of a full independent review."

As a result, RBS branches in Biggar, Beauly, Castlebay/Barra, Comrie, Douglas, Gretna, Inveraray, Melrose, Kyle and Tongue will remain open until at least the end of 2018.

In addition to keeping 10 branches open, RBS has said it will look to open new branches, improve the availability of ATMs in areas where there are closures and review the opening hours of its remaining branches.

Leaders of the Unite trade union branded the announcement a "stay of execution" and called on the bank to make clear what would happen to the other branches that have been earmarked for closure.