Councillors have condemned the planned closure of a bank on a "thriving" high street.

The Yorkshire Bank, in Main Street, Cross Hills, is to be axed from Tuesday, September 6.

It is one of 100 branches -- 40 in Yorkshire -- being closed nationwide by owners the National Australian Bank (NAB) within the next 18 months.

The Cross Hills branch is among 22 in the first wave to go.

Craven councillor Steve Place, who runs a shop in nearby Sutton village, said: "I am amazed.

"This is a well-used branch in a thriving shopping street. There are often queues to get served.

"I can understand closures in big towns where there is keen competition but this has not taken into account the need to serve a rural community."

He believed it would have an adverse affect on business and trade in the community.

September seemed a long way away but people would have to take steps soon to make other arrangements, he warned.

And Craven councillor Roger Nicholson, who represents Glusburn ward, said it was just another "nail in the coffin" for small communities which had also seen the closure of post offices.

"It also doesn't take account of people over the age of 60 in the community who are not familiar with automated banking," he said.

The nationwide closure will see the loss of 1,700 jobs in the UK in a bid to save £117 million.

Bank bosses say it is also in response to the changing needs of customers.

NAB chief executive John Stewart said: "Our research has shown that in any one month 75 per cent of our customers do not use a branch at all and 11 per cent use a branch only once.

"This is about providing our customers with the appropriate network for their needs."

The Australian bank acquired the Yorkshire Bank in the late 1980s.

Recently it carried out a review of its UK arm after offloading its Irish business -- Northern and National Irish Bank -- earlier this year.

The Yorkshire Bank dates back to 1859 and has 232 sites.