The Clydesdale is to close 60 bank branches

Tayport, a town of about 4,000 people, located at the mouth of the river Tay, is to be left with no bank facilities after the Clydesdale shuts.

The nearest bank services are in Newport-on-Tay, three miles away.

Jean Massey, chairwoman of Tayport community council, said: "It is three miles away but it might as well be 30. There is no bus service to speak of."

'Very upset'

She said: "People are going to have to get taxis if they don't have their own transport."

Ms Massey said that Tayport always seemed to be in the frontline when it came to losing services.

She said: "It really irritates Tayport people beyond belief. There is no need for this closure. There is still a need for bank here and it needs to be accessible."

Ms Massey said that she had just returned from a 20-mile round trip to Cupar to allow her elderly neighbour to visit Lloyd's TSB, which left Tayport more than a decade ago.

She said: "This is the kind of thing that will happen more if the Clydesdale closes. We will be protesting in the loudest terms. But I doubt they will listen."

Margaret Taylor, Lib Dem councillor for Tayport and Motray, said she was "very upset" at the Clydesdale decision.

This will have a big impact on the community. People will need to travel to Dundee or to Newport. You need your own transport because the buses are abysmal Margaret Taylor Tayport councillor

She said: "Just because we are in a rural area does not mean we do not need the same services as urban areas.

"We require full banking service as they do in the town."

Councillor Taylor said that local people had been "extremely loyal" to the bank over the years and it was well-used.

She said: "This will have a big impact on the community. People will need to travel to Dundee or to Newport. You need your own transport because the buses are abysmal.

"My thoughts are with the people who do not have mobility and have to rely on bus services. The bank will no longer be on their doorstep."

The owners of the Clydesdale Bank announced on Wednesday that they are to close more than a quarter of its branches across Scotland.

The move by National Australia Bank (NAB) will see 60 of the Clydesdale's 217 branches close in mainly rural areas.

The Glasgow-based company is currently the only bank in more than 30 communities across Scotland.

Clydesdale branch closures Alexandria Anstruther Dunlop (Ayrshire) Glasgow Calton and Bridgeton Glasgow Dennistoun Glasgow Govan Glasgow Pollokshields Inverkeithing Kincardine-on-Forth Larbert New Milns Stewarton Strathaven Tayport

Tayport resident Keith White said: "This would be the last bank closure in Tayport, everything else is gone.

"Tayport is presently a sub-branch of Newport to where there is no public transport.

"The proposed closure confirms the socialist case for one bank, publicly owned, with services based on need rather than narrow financial considerations, open to the public at times when the public can be in the vicinity."

Clydesdale customer Sheila Clack said she thought the Tayport closure was "ridiculous".

"Where are the pensioners supposed to bank now? How will they get to Newport, which, I hope, is not also closing down?

"You can withdraw money from the local post office but you cannot get any other service, including a print out of your account.