Anger as Clydesdale close 60 branches.

CLYDESDALE Bank axed 60 Scottish branches yesterday in a cost-cutting drive that will see 800 workers lose their jobs. The Glasgow bank revealed the first 14 branches on the list, with the others to be announced later this year.

The closures mean there will be no banks left in towns including Kincardine on Forth, Larbert, Dunlop in Ayrshire and Tayport in Fife.

Customers there will have to do their banking at post offices.

Also earmarked for closure yesterday were branches at Alexandria in Dunbartonshire, Anstruther and Inverkeithing in Fife, Calton, Bridgeton, Dennistoun, Govan and Pollokshields in Glasgow, Newmilns and Stewarton in Ayrshire and Strathaven in Lanarkshire.

Mary Alexander of bank workers' union Amicus said: 'Our members are obviously very disappointed by this. It is bad news for the people who work in these branches and for the people who use these banks.

'We will fight compulsory redundancies and highlight the negative impact this will have on vulnerable communities where management said they were committed to keeping open the last bank in town.'

Susan McDonald, a housewife and Clydesdale customer from Tayport, said: 'This is very upsetting news.

'I bank with the Clydesdale because it is the only bank with a branch here. Lots of people are going to be really put out by this.'

Campaigner Derek French said: 'Scottish communities will suffer as a result of this and I hope people will make their feelings clear.'

# HSBC workers are to stage a one-day strike on Friday, May 27 - just before the bank holiday weekend - in a dispute over pay