Concerns have been raised about proposals to close a high street’s last remaining bank.

NatWest, in High Road, Harrow Weald, is set to close in July, which has sparked a petition from customers and traders.

The bank is the last in the high street and the nearest other branch is just over a mile and a half away in Harrow town centre.

One shop opposing bank's closure is the Harrow Weald Dental Practice. Receptionist Binu Lamichhane said: “This is a very important issue to a lot of the traders and residents here.

“People want their bank to be local and for us and our business it is important to have a bank close by.

“We are customer of NatWest and the nearest branch is in Harrow town centre, which is not convenient at all.”

Labour parliamentary candidate for Harrow East Uma Kumaran said: "Losing the last bank in Harrow Weald would be a real blow to our community and all the local businesses and residents who rely on it.

"NatWest call themselves the helpful bank but they're not listening to the traders in Harrow Weald who want the bank to stay.”

"I'm also concerned about the impact this will have to our high street and what will replace it if it does go.

“The last thing Harrow needs is more payday lenders or betting shops, but thanks to this Tory government's planning free-for-all, it has become harder for local councils to oppose them and protect our high street.

“I’ve spoken to local traders and residents alike, they’re all calling for the bank to stay and so am I.”

A spokesman for Natwest said footfall and transactions at the bank have fallen by 18 per cent in the past few years as people are turning to online banking.

As a result they had to make the “difficult decision to close the branch”.

The bank says it will be taking a number of measures to ensure its customers can still access to their bank services including agreeing an arrangement with the nearby Post Office branch.