The Barclays branch in Hornchurch will be closing, it has been announced.

The banking giant notified its customers that the High Street branch will shut for good on Friday, May 17.

It said the branch is being used by less than ten customers regularly as their only way to do banking.

More than 90 per cent of the branch's customers, the bank claimed, have used their app, online and phone services in 2022.

It also said 39pc of the branch’s users have been to nearby branches in the last 12 months, with the closest one being in South Street, Romford.

As an alternative, the bank has encouraged people who cannot use the app or online or phone banking services to head to a local post office to withdraw or pay in cash.

Read More: See inside new Hornchurch Asda which replaced Co-op

The news of the branch's closure was met with shock by some people on social media who claimed that the site often seemed to have long queues.

One person on a Facebook group commented: “It’s a shame for the elderly that don’t do online banking."

The bank has said that it will be “working with the local community” to understand the impact of closing the branch.

It added: “Our local leadership teams look at how branches are used before making the decision to close a branch, which is then agreed at national level before we make it public.

“If you have any concerns or would like to talk to us about this closure, or you’d like some help with what to do once it’s closed, please get in touch.

“You can call us on 03457 3453452, or email Ian Lovelock, your deputy customer care director for Essex at ian.lovelock@barclays.com."

The move is in line with the company's decision to shut several of its other branches across the country, including the one in Brentwood that closes on May 31 this year. 

That branch, in High Street, is only used by 14 customers on a regular basis as their only way to bank, Barclays said.

The nearest Barclays branches to Brentwood are suggested as Romford and Basildon.