BARCLAYS has closed one of its Dorset branches due to a fall in usage in recent years.

Its branch, based on Cheap Street in Sherborne, shut for the final time on Friday, January 15.

Up until its closure, Barclays met with businesses and residents to discuss the alternative ways customers will be able to undertake their banking locally while other customers have been introduced to online banking.

The closure means its customers will have to venture over the Dorset/Somerset border to visit its Yeovil branch if they need to make an appointment or carry out physical banking.

The Dorset Echo understands no employees were made redundant as a result of this closure, but were instead offered alternative roles in the bank.

A Barclays spokeswoman said that there had been a continued decrease in the usage of its branch even before the coronavirus pandemic, which sparked the branch closure.

She said: “The decision to close a branch is never an easy one. However, customers are increasingly using alternatives to branches to do their banking. As a result, we are seeing a sustained fall in branch visits across the UK.

“This is reflected at the Sherborne branch where there has been a 13 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the two years to March 2020.

“In addition, over four fifths (83 per cent) of our customers at the branch are also using different ways to bank.

“We have worked with our customers to provide alternative options to ensure they can continue to manage their money and receive financial expertise when required.”