Banking giant Lloyds is to close its Cheltenham & Gloucester branches as part of a fresh wave of cuts which will see more than 1,000 jobs axed, it was revealed.

Industry sources said about 1,400 posts could be cut when the bank makes a formal announcement.

Branches of Cheltenham & Gloucester across the country will close under the latest rationalisation plans.

Lloyds has cut almost 3,000 jobs since mid-April after its merger earlier this year with Halifax Bank of Scotland, leading to anger from unions.

Officials have complained about "death by a thousand cuts" and have urged the bank to "come clean" about the scale of the restructuring programme.

A Lloyds spokesman would not comment on the cuts.