BUCKFASTLEIGH will lose a mobile banking facility thanks to opposition in other south Devon villages.

The Portman Building Society mobile branch has been running since August 2001, but some residents in Modbury, Wembury and Newton Ferrers have criticised the service, claiming that the bus is obstructive and damaging to the environment.

Portman Chief Executive Robert Sharpe expressed disappointment that some residents had made it clear to staff that the vehicle is not welcome.

'When we launched the mobile branch over a year ago, we purposefully sought to identify rural communities that we believed would benefit from the services of a local building society.

'I am saddened that the determination of some local residents to remove this facility from their community has left us with no choice but to withdraw the service.'

In Buckfastleigh, business levels at the mobile branch have been disappointing but Portman spokesman Lynsey Hallam said that: 'We were prepared to go the extra mile so that customers would not have to go so far to conduct their personal finances.'

Buckfastleigh has an existing Lloyds Bank branch and it is thought that losing the building society will not have a detrimental effect.

Mayor Cllr Pat Hedges said: 'We already have a bank in the town, but I am surprised in some respects, that the smaller villages that do not have any facilities have decided to oppose the mobile branch.'

The mobile branch was started with the intention of providing the villages of Modbury, Wembury, Buckfastleigh, Ivybridge, Newton Ferrers, South Brent, Yealmpton and Yelverton with regular and local access to banking facilities.

Many of the communities have no other financial services' provider.

Ms Hallam said: 'We tried it and it has not worked. Almost half of the locations have objected.

'It is a shame. Like us, some residents are sad to see it go.'

The mobile branch will cease operating on Friday, February 28.

Users have been advised that they can continue operating the account by post and have been made aware of their nearest branch.