FIFTY years ago the world’s first cash machine was installed by Barclays Bank.

Now there are more than 70,000 cash machines across the UK. We are told that customers withdrew £11.05bn out of cash machines in May 2017 – up from £10.97bn in May 2016.

In addition, cash machines can be used to top up mobile phones, donate to charity as well as many other things.

Why therefore, have so many bank branches and their cash machines disappeared in recent years – particularly in this part of the country?

In many parts of rural North Yorkshire you can now find yourself ten miles or more from your nearest bank branch. Broadband speeds are very often well below the minimum download speed proposed by the Government and this could result in banking online difficulties for some.

Older people in particular can feel more isolated when their local branch closes and their computer skills are limited.

The closure of HSBC in Leyburn on a Friday afternoon recently – immediately before our Food and Drink Festival (which is probably the busiest weekend of the year here) was astonishing.

Many visitors were left confused and bewildered.

Despite the best efforts of our local MP Rishi Sunak – and others – HSBC have closed their branches in Bedale, Hawes and Leyburn in recent years. Customers of HSBC in Leyburn have had their accounts arbitrarily transferred to HSBC Northallerton, not their nearest branch which would have been Richmond.

Does this mean that HSBC Richmond will be the next in line for closing? If so, it really will be RIP HSBC in the Dales.

Gordon Walker, Preston under Scar