A NEWPORT pensioner battling to save a city bank branch from closure handed over his 3,000-signature petition yesterday.

In the two-and-a-half weeks Eric Channing, 71, stood outside HSBC in Caerleon Road, calling on the bank to reverse its decision to close the branch, he collected 3,213 signatures.

Yesterday, Mr Channing, of Merlin Crescent, went to Cardiff Bay to present his petition to South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar and Newport East AM John Griffiths at the Senedd before handing it in to the branch in Bute Street.

After hearing the news of the forthcoming closure, Mr Channing took it upon himself to fight it – standing outside the bank for five or more hours every day, even after the branch closed at 3pm.

Mr Channing said he and his wife Jean have been using the branch for 46 years.

He said: “I’ve got to wait for the powers that be to decide now, but I’m pleased with the response I’ve had.”

As reported previously in the Argus, the bank is set to close on June 17. A spokesman for HSBC said the two members of staff who work at the bank will be moved to another branch.

The spokesman said the closure was due to a fall in the number of people using the branch, combined with the rising number of people using phone and internet banking.