MEMORIAL plaques displayed in a high street bank will be moved to a branch 15 minutes away — despite containing names of local people.

The display in Natwest in Market Street, Westhoughton, features names of employees who lost their lives in combat.

But following the closure of the business on Tuesday, it has been revealed that they will be moved to the next-closest branch in Leigh, which is a 15-minute drive away.

Members of Westhoughton Town Council were dismayed at the decision after trying to convince bosses to hand the plaques over to be put on display in the library or the town hall so local people could see them.

During Monday's council meeting, Cllr David Wilkinson said: "I’m really disappointed with this to be honest. At least the bank isn’t going to throw them in a skip, that’s something.

"But they’re from Westhoughton and we have given the bank an opportunity to retain them in Westhoughton. It is a bit disappointing that the Royal Bank of Scotland (owners of Natwest) has decided to move them to Leigh.

"It is still a long way off and there will be people who won't be able to get there easily.

"It is disappointing because we have a good home for them and that is here in Westhoughton."

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Cllr Ryan Battersby described it as a "shame" and a "loss" for the town.

He added: "Westhoughton names should be seen by Westhoughton people."

And Cllr Arthur Price said: "It’s part of Westhoughton’s history that’s being taken away from Westhoughton. I think we should say very strongly that they should be kept in the town, either in the library or the town hall."

Members asked whether they could push the issue with Natwest to try and get them to reconsider.

Cllr Wilkinson said: "We should ask them whether they can reconsider and if we can move them either into the town hall or into the library.

"We have a memorial board downstairs in the town hall which was done a few years ago where they could go. But unless people have been in the bank to look at them, they’ll never see those names."

The Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns Natwest, has been contacted for a response.