Campaigners are staging a last-ditch bid to save a town centre bank from closure.

The Royal Bank of Scotland is due to shut its Canal Street branch, in Renfrew, for the last time in June.

However, Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands is hoping it can still be saved from the axe.

He joined forces with other activists to hit the streets of Renfrew and collect signatures for a petition that he will present to the House of Commons, urging the UK Government to intervene.

Mr Newlands said: “The people of Renfrew are angry and disappointed by the decision to close their popular town centre branch.

“This has been evidenced by the number of people and businesses who have signed my petition to save this vital branch.

“The people of Renfrew have shown loyalty to RBS over the years, including helping to bail out the bank in 2008. RBS – which we, as taxpayers, still own – should now repay that loyalty by reversing the ridiculous decision to close the branch.”

Bosses at RBS insist the closure is necessary as more people choose to bank online or on mobile phones.

Customers who prefer to do their banking in person will be left facing a trip to Paisley, with the nearest RBS branch based in Moncrieff Street.

Renfrew woman Sadie Currie, who joined Mr Newlands to collect signatures for the petition, said: “The RBS branch here is an important service for many local people, particularly older people who are not as comfortable using online banking.”

A spokesman for HM Treasury said that, as a commercial decision, the branch closure was a matter for RBS management.

He added: “The government does not intervene in these decisions but we understand the impact that closures can have on communities and people’s jobs.

“Banks must now give customers as much notice as possible when a branch is closing and ensure they are made aware of the options they have locally to continue to access banking services.”