VILLAGERS were delighted yesterday when their only bank made a formal move to install its first cash point.

Barclays applied for planning consent from Teesdale District Council to have the machine fitted at its branch in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

The next nearest bank is ten miles away, in Barnard Castle.

When a survey was carried out more than a decade ago to find out what features the public wanted most to improve the village, a cash point came near the top of the list.

Councillor Richard Betton, a member of the council for the upper dale, and an official of the farm support group UTASS, said yesterday: "This is very good news for local residents and business people. It means those living in the area can get money when they want."