CLEVELAND MP Dr Ashok Kumar this week welcomed two new moves in the battle over rural bank closures.

He praised MPs who are backing a fight to stop NatWest pulling out of Loftus, and welcomed a "rural manifesto" for better services in villages, including an argument for bank facilities to be backed by law.

The Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP unveiled the names of 20 MPs who have given their support to the Loftus struggle by signing an early day motion. This condemns the decision to close the bank and notes it follows other bank closures in East Cleveland by Barclays.

It argues it is "closure by stealth" which flies in the face of assurances made by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the new owners of NatWest, at the time of takeover that there would be no branch rationalisation.

Dr Kumar said: "I am delighted to have got so much support. MPs across the country are showing displeasure at the tactics of big banks and the way they are treating isolated communities like Loftus and their customers as expendable. I hope this makes the Royal Bank of Scotland think again."

The rural manifesto was produced by a group of Labour MPs, including Dr Kumar, and covers what he thinks are vital issues which must be taken on board by the government if small country towns and villages are to prosper.

A key commitment is the improvement of retail, entertainment, community and financial services.

The manifesto argues there is a need to secure a presence, backed by law, of high street banks in villages, development of post offices to provide new commercial activities and more backing for village halls and pubs.

Dr Kumar said these demands were relevant to East Cleveland where two banks had already closed.