BANK staff in Chipping Sodbury are celebrating 175 years of helping customers with their finances.

Natwest, on Broad Street, has marked the milestone anniversary with an exhibition of old photographs and a giant cake to share with customers.

The bank first opened in the town on September 26, 1834 as the sixth branch of the National Provincial Bank of England in the country.

Chipping Sodbury was seen as an ideal location to open a bank because of its thriving agricultural economy at this time, specialising in the production of cheese and wheat.

The town had a population of 1,300 and boasted two large inns, enhancing its popularity with visitors to the nearby Cotswold Hills.

The new business was an immediate success and during the 19th and early 20th centuries it continued to prosper particularly with the opened of a railway station in Chipping Sodbury in 1903. As banks faced increasing competition and were forced to grow in order to compete, National Provincial Bank of England merged with Union of London and Smiths Bank in 1918 to form National Provincial Bank. Union of London and Smiths Bank had its own office in Broad Street, which had been opened in 1910 and the business was transferred to the National Provincial Bank premises in 1920.

In 1970 National Westminster Bank was formed by the merger of National Provincial Bank with Westminster Bank, which had been represented in Chipping Sodbury since 1920 and moved into the National Provincial Bank premises at 77 Broad Street.

Current branch manager Andrew Oliver said: "My team and I are delighted to be celebrating the fact that NatWest has been operating a banking service for the people of Chipping Sodbury for 175 years. "We are proud of our close association with the town and look forward to celebrating this occasion with our customers, as well as continuing to provide a high quality service to the local community."

A brochure detailing the history of the branch has been produced and is available now in the bank.