Barclays is to axe 450 jobs, as it gears up for more branch closures.

It has closed dozens of bank branches across the UK in the past year, with nine more announced earlier this month.

The Cirencester branch is one of those hit by the latest round of closures. It will close its doors for the final time November 17.

It is though that mid to senior level staff at the head office are most likely to be affected by the cuts.

Trade union Unite, which represents bank staff, described the decision as "unnecessary and unjustified".

Dominic Hook, Unite's national officer, said: "How can a profitable finance organisation such as Barclays slash over 450 staff amid a cost-of-living crisis? This isn't an organisation struggling to survive, this bank is making billions of pounds of profits.

"If these plans for compulsory redundancy are implemented, then hundreds of families will lose their livelihoods and face financial hardship because of a management decision which is both unnecessary and unjustified. The staff losing their jobs are not highly paid rich City bankers, but those earning modest salaries within Barclays."