The fight to save the last remaining branch of Barclays Bank in a Suffolk district was heading to the House of Commons with the presentation of an MP's 1,762 signature petition.

Therese Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal, is calling on the Government and financial regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to intervene to prevent Leiston losing its Barclays branch, which is due to close on May 17.

The online petition, which was presented to parliament on Thursday, is urging the House of Commons to request the Government put pressure on Barclays to keep the Main Street bank open.

READ MORE: Therese Coffey launched the petition to save the Leiston bank

In January, the EADT revealed that Barclays was set to close the branch down due to a lack of customers, with the national chain saying only 64 customers visited the Leiston premises regularly.

Dr Coffey accused Barclays of 'shameful and shameless' behaviour over its handling of the closure amid concerns that customers who could not access online services would be unable to do their banking.

She added: “A huge thank you to the 1,762 people who signed my petition. Barclays is the last bank in Leiston and the last branch of Barclays in Suffolk Coastal after the closures of seven other branches over the last decade.

READ MORE: Therese Coffey backs fight to save Leiston Barclays

"We are in a digital age, but I know how much of a lifeline local bank branches are for all sectors of the community, especially for local businesses and elderly and vulnerable residents.”

The petition also requests that the FCA publishes its assessment of the justification given by Barclays for the closure of the Leiston branch.

Following the closure of the Leiston bank, the next nearest Barclays branch will be in Lowestoft.

A separate petition calling for the Leiston branch to be kept open, started by Carl Creed on the change.org website, has collected 577 signatures. 

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