One of Hadleigh’s main high street banks is set to close this summer as numbers of customers using the branch have plummeted.

Barclays Bank in High Street, Hadleigh, will close on Friday, June 1, after more than 50 years of serving the town.

Bosses at the firm said the decision to close branches was not taken lightly, and credited dramatically falling usage figures as behind the reason.

More than 77% of customers already use online or phone banking, while leaflets distributed by the bank say that just 154 people out of a population of more than 10,000 in the town use it as their sole point of banking.

Kathryn Kitson, community banking director for Barclays in Norfolk and Suffolk said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

“At the branch in Hadleigh, customer usage has continued to decline and more than 77% of the customers of the branch are already using online, mobile or telephone banking.

“We hope that the availability of the branches in Princes Street, Ipswich, Manningtree and Woodbridge Road and access to services at the nearby Post Office in 63 High Street, Hadleigh, along with our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers.”

Sean Garnham, high street business owner, bank customer and chairman of the Hadleigh Chamber of Commerce, said: “It certainly seems they have done their homework before making the decision.

“The decision to close is disappointing but not one that comes as a great surprise.

“From a business decision I can see the justification, from the community [perspective] it’s a disappointment but we have to be aware the world is changing.”

He added that he was interested in seeing what will fill the unit, with “a number of people interested in Hadleigh”.

At Mid Suffolk District Council, leader Nick Gowrley confirmed in his report ahead of Thursday’s council meeting that a formal offer had been made to purchase the vacant Natwest bank in Stowmarket.

It is hoped the council will be able to confirm acceptance at the meeting, although no plans have yet been announced as to what it might become.