THREE branches of Santander are set to close in East Lancashire after the latest round of misery was announced for banking workers.

Bosses from the Madrid-based financier have confirmed plans to close 140 sites across the UK, putting more than 1,200 jobs at risk.

And these include their branches in Clitheroe, Ramsbottom, and the Briercliffe Road branch in Burnley.

The town centre branch in Burnley is unaffected, as are their locations in Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Rawtenstall and Chorley.

Last year the firm closed down branches in Bacup's St James Square and Burnley Road in Padiham.

While customers can use post offices now, the move will see Santander's network shrink to 614.

Management have blamed the decision on the falling number of transactions within their high street premises.

Susan Allen, their head of retail and business banking, said: "The way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels.

"As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity."

"We will support customers of closing branches to find alternative ways to bank with us that best suit their individual needs. We are also working alongside our unions to support colleagues through these changes and to find alternative roles for those impacted wherever possible."

She added that the banks expects the size of its branch network to "remain stable for the foreseeable future."

Bosses say the amount of face-to-face transactions in branch has dipped by 23 per cent and the proportion of business carried out via mobile phones has soared by 99 per cent.

And they have outlined plans to invest £55million on a refurbishment programme for 100 of their sites over the next two years.