Carmarthenshire MP Jonathan Edwards has called for people to consider moving their custom to financial institutions that remain committed to Ammanford after Barclays announced it was closing the town's branch.

The College Street bank will close its doors for good on Friday, August 6 at 12 noon.

Mr Edwards said: "Banks have been guilty of a great betrayal after they were bailed out by public money following the financial crash in 2008.

"I have consistently argued for a different financial model to replace commercial banking based on community banks and strong credit unions.

"The Welsh Government needs to look at such innovation as a way of protecting the most socially excluded and underpin the local economy.

"Whilst the closure is a matter for Barclays I will be seeking assurances from the bank that their most vulnerable customers will not be left isolated.

"The rest of us, including myself need to consider moving our custom to those financial institutions that remain committed to Ammanford."

Barclays has outlined the reasons why it has made the decision to close the Ammanford branch.

A spokesperson said: "The number of counter transactions has gone down in the previous 24 months and additionally 82 per cent of our branch customers also use other ways to do their banking such as online and by telephone.

"Customers using other ways to do their banking has increased by 14 per cent since 2015 and in the past 12 months, 11 per cent of this branch's customers have been using nearby branches.

"We’ve identified that only 157 customers use this branch exclusively for their banking."

Other branches that Barclays list as nearby are Llandeilo and Gorseinon, which are about seven and ten miles away respectively.

Cashpoints in the town include one at Lloyds Bank on Quay Street and one at the Coop on College Street.

The closest Post Offices are listed as Ammanford and Penybanc.