A FORMER high street bank is due to go under the hammer at a forthcoming auction.

The three-storey NatWest building in Market Street, Westhoughton, will be sold off by Pugh Auctions in Manchester on Tuesday, September 12.

The auctioneers have set the bottom price at £100,000.

In its description, Pugh Auctions said the premises was in an 'established town centre position fronting on to Market Street'.

It continued: "Mid-terrace three storey, plus basement and mezzanine, town centre former NatWest bank premises, together with an ATM that has been built in a separate room and is subject to a leaseback to NatWest.

"The property was previously used as retail/public areas to the ground floor, with offices, WCs, ancillary and staff facilities to the upper floors.

"The property being sold includes the freehold reversion of 46/48 Market Street, which is let by way of a 999-year lease with a rent of £10 per annum."

It points out nearby amenities including the Robert Shaw pub and nearby transport links at junction five of the M61.

The premises has been shut since June after NatWest announced its closure last year.

A spokesman for the bank said: "The way people choose to bank with us has changed radically over the last few years. Between 2010 and 2015, mobile and online transactions have increased by over 400 per cent and mobile transactions alone have increased by 1,350 per cent.

"We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable and regular branch customers.

"We have listened closely to feedback from local communities and have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months.

"We know that not all of our customers are comfortable and familiar with using online or mobile banking, so we have created a new specialist taskforce of digital experts who will be dedicated to supporting our customers with training and support with digital skills."

For more information, go to pugh-auctions.com/Auctions