A town's last remaining bank or building society will reduce its opening hours by almost half from next month.

Nationwide in Short Street, Sandwich, will operate from 9am until 4.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays from November 29.

It currently opens four days a week until 2pm.

The two day reduction follows a 51% decline in transactions over the past five years, with 79% of Sandwich members registered for online banking.

It is also part of the building society's plan to transform how its helps its members via online and telephone while keeping branches open in communities.

A spokesperson for Nationwide Building Society said: "As announced at our AGM in July, we are trialling how we operate in some areas by remaining open at busy days and closing our doors at quieter days so that colleagues can support additional demand online and on the telephone.

"We think this is a more mutually supportive way to help all our members, while providing a long-term role for the branch that ensures they are here both today and tomorrow.

"This is the case in Sandwich, where we have seen transactions decline by 51% over the last five years and we know that 79% of our Sandwich members are registered for online banking.

“We have written to members who regularly use the branch to let them know about the change in hours and our branch colleagues are also having conversations with members as they visit."

The town was once home to Lloyds, Natwest and Barclays as well as HSBC which departed in 2016.

Dover District Councillor for Sandwich, Cllr Daniel Friend, has voiced concerns to his fellow members in a bid to overturn the decision.

He said: "Nationwide is an invaluable asset to residents and businesses in Sandwich.

'Nationwide is an invaluable asset to residents and businesses in Sandwich.'

"Although there is justified disappointment that the opening hours are reducing, it is at least still serving the community on critical days like Market Day.

"The staff at this branch are exceptional and work very closely with organisations like Age Concern and have been very successful at saving residents from losing money to scams.

"I also tabled a motion at Sandwich Town Council for the Mayor to write to Nationwide bosses to reconsider this decision and we await a response."

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich