A recent TSB cull of branches spared the Ledbury bank, but a question mark still remains over its long-term future.

TSB has effectively issued a "use it or lose it" message, raising fears in the market town that the 'bank-drain' is not over.

Currently there are only two banks in Ledbury - Barclays and TSB, and only three on-street cash machines - at Barclays, Tesco and the Co-op, for a town of more than 10,000 people.

A TSB spokesman said: "Currently our customers do use the Ledbury branch on a regular basis – which is good.

"However, it’s worth pointing out that we do keep all our network constantly under review; hence my advice that if people want banks to keep local branches open, they do need to use them, so that they remain financially viable.

"Typically a branch costs over £300,000 per year to run."

There has been a 'bank drain' in recent years from Ledbury with the loss of Natwest, HSBC and Lloyds branches.

The TSB advice has concerned some Ledbury residents.

Homend retailer and former town mayor, Annette Crowe, on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, said: "It is not the service to the community that head office look at it is the amount of new business they generate in the forms of loans and mortgages that keeps them profitable.

"Head office are really not interested in how it affects communities or businesses. They expect everything to be done online which is not easy for those who do not bank online or businesses that have to bank takings."

Dave Marcovecchio said: "Banks don't really care about being a public service that much. The Lloyds and the Barclays in Newent always had queues out of the door and they still shut them. They'll do whatever is 'best for business' at the end of the day, and everyday retail banking is increasingly not that."

Rosalie Cross added: "Lots of the elderly people in Ledbury rely on this bank!"

And Clare Turner said: "Every time we use online banking or a self service till, we are pushing towards closures and loss of jobs. It ain't rocket science."

But there has also been plenty of praise for the service offered by TSB in Ledbury, and the hope that the good service will continue.

Hannah West said: "Ledbury TSB are fantastic. They absolutely deserve the custom that would keep them open."

And Kerstin Ingham said: "The impression I get from our TSB is that they do genuinely care about providing a public service, which they do exceptionally well, and I believe they have deservedly picked up quite a bit of business from the closed banks. Any business with a high street shop front and rent and salaries to pay needs physical foot fall to justify the bricks and mortar expense and the area that makes those which succeed stand out is the quality of face-to-face customer service which no amount of button-clicking and 'support line' calls can replicate."

The TSB spokesman said the Ledbury branch was spared the axe in the recent cull because "in deciding which branches to close TSB conducted a detailed review and analysis of its current network, including its usage, proximity to alternative branches, the needs of vulnerable customers and the accessibility of alternative services such as free to use ATMs and the Post Office".

TSB currently has 540 branches and after the closures, which will come in effect next year, it will have 454 branches left, including in Ledbury.