Bradford and Bingley is to lay off all remaining branch-based mortgage advisers in its nine Kent offices as part of a nationwide programme of job cuts.

A spokesman was unable to give an exact number of the jobs affected in the county, but it is understood to be no more than nine.

The lender announced a total of 370 job losses nationwide, including 300 at the mortgage processing centre in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, which is to close.

Some 20 of the job losses will be from the nationwide sales team and all 50 of its remaining branch-based mortgage advisers will lose their jobs.

Many mortgage advisers had already been laid off by the company, which is suffering a downturn in the number of people taking out mortgages.

Bradford and Bingley is is hoping for annual cost savings of £15 million.