Local MP Patricia Gibson has said she will continue to press RBS to host a business fair in West Kilbride.

She said that this was one of the concessions that the bank made when they closed the only premises in town at the end of October, after a history going back 170 years in West Kilbride.

Since then, a mobile bank is based in the car park next to the King's Arms Hotel during the week, but their times are changing as of next week. However, customers have complained to the 'News', with one stating: "Perhaps if the Post Office and RBS had got together then maybe the bank building could still have been used. Going into a cramped van in a pub carpark and receiving limited services is not a great customer experience, but better than nothing."

Mrs Gibson said: "I am pushing for a business fayre - West Kilbride is yet another town in the constituency which has recently lost a bank, RBS pulled out after they said they wouldn't - and the business fayre is something I want to happen quite soon, once I speak to the local businesses."

The current hours of the mobile bank are Monday 2.20 to 3.20pm; Wednesday 2.20 to 3.20pm, Friday 1.40 to 2.25pm, but these are changing on 8 February to Monday 2 to 3pm, Thursday 2.20 to 3.05pm and Friday 1.55 to 3pm.

In a statement issued by the bank to customers last year, RBS revealed the customer figures who used the bank service in the town: "The decision to close our RBS West Kilbride branch on the 27th October 2015 was not taken lightly. It was based on a wide range of factors including branch usage and the alternative ways our customers can bank with us in the area.

"As part of the decision to close the branch we carefully considered both personal and business customers, including their age profile and their reliance on the branch. We also thought through the alternative banking services that will be available for our existing and future customers in the community.

"The number of transactions taking place at the RBS West Kilbride branch has dropped by 16% since 2011 and 66 customers are using the branch on a regular weekly basis. A total of 29 of these customers already use our other branches in the area.

"Customers will be able to access their banking with us in a number of ways in the local area, including telephone banking, online and mobile banking, using our mobile bank, at our ATM, or at an alternative branch or post office."