County has 50% fewer cash machines than in 2021

Data shows one in 10 cash machines across the UK have closed over three years

Rutland has lost half of its cash machines over the past three years, new data shows.

Analysis of data from Link - a network of cash machines - shows that one in 10 have closed across the UK in the same timeframe.

The figures show Rutland has fared the worst of any area in the country as it went from having 18 cash machines in June 2021 to nine in the space of three years.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, says free access to cash is "absolutely vital" for older people and described the figures as "concerning".

According to the Link data, there were about 48,500 cash machines available across the UK as of June this year, which represents a 10% drop from 54,000 in June 2021.

Ms Abrahams said many older people did not manage their money online.

"The decline in ATMs is concerning, although the new regulations recently introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) should protect access for the vast majority of people," she said.

"We hope that the government will continue to monitor the situation and will be able to act if necessary."

FCA rules introduced in September require banks to give more consideration to local communities before they close a branch, and firms to check whether more services are needed before a cash machine is switched off.

The analysis shows machines which charge a fee are disappearing much faster than those that do not.

More than one in five surcharging cash machines closed between 2021 and 2024, compared with 6% of free machines.