A BANK has said sorry and given a town £1,000 for closing and boarding up a branch office just a week before judging began for the Anglia in Bloom competition. Staff from Barclays left newspapers dangling in the window- and a cash machine boarded up with

A BANK has said sorry and given a town £1,000 for closing and boarding up a branch office just a week before judging began for the Anglia in Bloom competition.

Staff from Barclays left newspapers dangling in the window- and a cash machine boarded up with some ill fitting wood, after closing its Woolwich Building Society office in High Street, Chatteris.

"It looked horrible," said town clerk Joanne Melton who was asked to write to Barclays complaining about its insensitivity.

The bank has moved its savings business to its main town centre branch but town councillors were less than happy with the mess left behind.

But on Tuesday two representatives from Barclays turned up at the monthly Town Council meeting, tendered their apologies, and left promising to hand over £1,000 to the Chatteris in Bloom committee.

"The council was delighted and I am sure Chatteris in Bloom will be equally delighted," said Mrs Melton.

"I had written to them describing the eyesore they had created just a week before judging. They put these bits of paper in the window, and put a block of wood over the cash machine - not nice."

Not only did the bank apologise profusely said Mrs Melton but they also promised to deliver on the second part of the councilís complaint, that of queues forming at the main branch.

On Wednesday morning Mrs Melton received a phone call from Barclays asking for arrangements to get the money to the Chatteris in Bloom committee.

"Apparently they donít write cheques any more," she explained.

The former Woolwich is expected to be sold shortly. Results of the Anglia in Bloom competition are due out next week.