THERESA May is under growing pressure to prevent the Royal Bank of Scotland from closing 62 branches.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has written to May about the Scottish closures.

In response to Blackford at Westminster's Prime Minister’s Questions, May had said she did not intend to intervene over a "commercial" decision.

However, Blackford, said that no consultation had been held about the decision by RBS, which is 72 per cent taxpayer-owned.

He said: "The Prime Minister has an obligation. She must stand up for the public who bailed out RBS and are now, in some cases, going to be without any bank at all.

Theresa May’s response in Prime Minister’s Questions was shocking – she can’t wash her hands of this issue. Thirteen Scottish towns are about to lose their only bank. The Prime Minister is so out of touch she is unaware of how these closures will hit rural communities.

"I have learnt there was no consultation with local communities ahead of this decision being taken, highlighting a complete lack of customer care.

"These decisions must be raised by the UK government at the earliest opportunity in their role as a major shareholder.

"RBS has a duty to its customers, they really cannot repay our communities by withdrawing from them"

Scottish Secretary David Mundell ?said he was opposed to the closures.

He said: "I called in RBS senior staff and made clear to them in no uncertain terms how serious these closures are for communities ?across Scotland. Branches are a lifeline for many people, especially in rural areas.

"RBS needs to remember its responsibilities to customers and reconsider these harmful closures."

RBS declined to respond to Blackford's criticism.