A PETITION calling on Santander to reverse its “deeply harmful” decision to close its Helensburgh branch in April has attracted almost 400 signatures in its first few hours.

The parliamentary appeal has been launched by Helensburgh and Lomond MP Brendan O’Hara, who gathered significant support for the motion by taking to the streets on Saturday morning with local SNP activists.

Santander announced last month that 140 branches throughout the UK are to close, with seven jobs at the Helensburgh branch at risk and customers facing a near 50-mile round trip to the next nearest premises in Glasgow’s Byres Road.

READ MORE: Anger as Santander announces closure of Helensburgh branch.

Mr O’Hara said: “After speaking to scores of people on Saturday morning, I am in no doubt at the strength of feeling in the town.

“We will continue to campaign with this petition and if anyone would like to sign their name they can call into my office on Colquhoun Square and add their names to a growing list.

“Time and again, banks close their doors on the high street and expect the Post Office to simply pick up the slack.

“This is just the latest round of bank closures to hit communities across Scotland, coming at a time when many communities are being left cashless through the removal of hundreds of local ATMs.

READ MORE: Santander urged to reconsider Helensburgh branch closure plan.

“A few weeks ago, one local Post Office in Argyll and Bute actually ran out of money.

“Online banking and Post Offices are not adequate replacements for Santander’s most vulnerable customers. They do not provide the full range of day-to-day services that a local bank branch offers for businesses, customers, and those that depend on much-valued local employment.

“The UK government must step in and act. It can no longer argue that it cannot intervene.

“The UK government has an important role to play, and it is disappointing and telling that the secretary of state for Scotland has snubbed offers of cross-party talks to find a solution that protects local jobs, local communities and small local businesses.”