SUB-BRANCHES of Lloyds TSB in Bere Alston, Princetown and Gunnislake were given a reprieve this week when the bank announced a change in policy — but the Yelverton branch is still to go.

Lloyds Bank announced it would not close branches in communities where it was the only bank.

'Where we are the last bank in town we won't close the branch and leave the community without facilities,' a spokeswoman said.

She admitted the change of heart was primarily due to the response of customers to the closures announced at the end of last month.

The proposal to close branches in West Devon and East Cornwall sparked anger from many long-standing Lloyds customers.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said he had spoken to a senior executive at the bank.

'I told them if they wanted the loyalty of their customers and staff they had to show loyalty in return,' he said. 'I'm very pleased they've reversed the decision.'

Gunnislake post mistress Margaret Turnbull, who foresaw a loss of business for the village and difficulties for local businesses if the bank closed, said: 'Isn't it wonderful — marvellous for the village — it's really saved everything, we're very pleased.'

West Devon Council's deputy mayor and councillor for Bere Alston Christine Grills said: 'I'm very pleased to hear it. It's good news for Bere Alston and the whole of the Bere peninsula where there isn't even a hole-in-the-wall.

'To get the bank to change its mind is really good — it seems the voice of the people has been heard on this occasion.'

Yelverton's Lloyds TSB will still close on June 30, because HSBC, formerly the Midland, still has a branch in the village.

Lloyds will now be looking at whether it can close branches in towns where it has more than one, such as Tavistock where there is a Lloyds bank and a TSB within a few feet of each other.

The spokeswoman said each case would be considered on its own merits and if the number of customers warranted it then both branches could remain open.

She said a decision had not yet been made for Tavistock, but added that any changes would have little affect on customers or on staff, who were normally relocated.

'It's very unusual for us to lose staff when we merge branches,' she said.