BANKING firm Lloyds has announced plans to shut down some 50 branches, including two in Teignbridge.

Banks in Bovey Tracey and Dawlish are set to bite the dust as Lloyds Banking Group cuts back its high street presence.

The move, which will see 1,230 jobs put at risk across UK, has been blamed on changing behaviour and the lack of transactions being made in store.

Bovey Tracey mayor Cllr Avril Kerswell said: ‘The closure is a big blow for the town.

‘Especially for elderly people who don’t do internet banking.

‘The bank is part of our community – we have already lost two and Lloyds is our last one.’

Cllr Kerswell told the Mid-Devon Advertiser that people come from surrounding towns and villages to use Lloyds Bank.

She added: ‘It is a very sad day for the town.

‘It’s so out of the blue – just wasn’t expecting it.’

Bosses made the closure revelation this week – nearly a year after 100 branches nationwide were shut down.

Lloyds Banking Group, which owns Halifax, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland, is also closing stores in Ottery St Mary and Plymouth.

A total of 49 Lloyds and Halifax stores are set to shut between July and October this year with the Dawlish branch closing on October 9.

Officials at Lloyds said despite more than 1,000 jobs being at risk, 925 new roles would be created as it expands its ‘mobile branch network.’

The smaller walk-in mobile branches are staffed by two people and designed to help customers manage their transactions digitally.