AN MP has joined fellow parliamentarians in petitioning the chief executive of banking group Barclays over its decision to remove cash withdrawal services from Post Offices.

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon has reacted because many of his constituents will not have access to free withdrawal cash machines - currently at the Post Office and inside the Co-op - outside of trading hours.

He said: “Free access to cash is something that has become a real issue in the constituency, with the closure of so many high street banks and ATMs many people were reliant on cash services inside a Post Office.”

“In Royton, for example, there is no free access to cash apart from the Post Office and inside the Co-op. Outside of trading hours constituents are unable to access cash without charge, that is simply unacceptable. My constituents should not have to travel into Oldham town centre just to access their own cash, and it sadly seems that is the way we are heading.

“The Access to Cash review found that nearly eight million adults would struggle in a cashless society.

"We should be doing all we can to ensure that our constituents have continued free access to cash and fight tooth and nail to prevent further barriers going up.

"I do hope that Barclays reverse this decision and Post Office branches continue to offer this vital service to our communities.”