Burnham has been dealt another bombshell after one bank announced its closure, a second is now set to slash its opening hours.

Last week, NatWest confirmed it would be closing its Burnham branch in March and this week, Barclays has announced it will be shutting on Wednesdays as it goes down to a four-day week.

Dozens of residents have signed a petition against the closure of NatWest amid fears it would put too much pressure on the Post Office after the bank said customers could use services there instead.

Barclays’ Essex community leader Andy Fletcher said: “At the Burnham on Crouch branch, we have experienced a decline in customer usage on a Wednesday and we have therefore made the decision to change our opening hours."

From February 2, Barclays will open from 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

A spokesman confirmed there were no plans to close the branch, despite axing Wednesday from its working week.