Cleator Moor Town Council has received an explanation for the removal of the popular ATM from the former NatWest bank building in the town.

An application has been made for planning permission to remove the facility which is at 59, High Street.

Councillors have expressed concerns that a valuable service to the community was to be taken from the town.

A letter sent in July to the manager of NatWest bank in Whitehaven, from the town council clerk, Helen Gilmour, on behalf of the councillors, said: "The ATM provides a valuable service to the community, and it is with much regret on behalf of the community that the bank has decided to take this action."

Natwest responded to the town council concerns on Monday saying there had been a steady decline in people using the ATM and numbers were down by a third.

A spokesperson for the bank said: "Having considered all the information, I am sorry but I unable to agree with your complaint about the withdrawal of our ATM in Cleator Moor.

"Customers are increasingly using alternative ways of banking with us. As a result our customers are changing and we are have had to respond to these changes."

The next town council meeting will be held at Cleator Moor Civic Hall on Tuesday, October 10 at 6.30pm.