Local MSP Finlay Carson has secured banking facilities for the Wigtown Book Festival.

The news comes after it was announced that the Bank of Scotland branch in Wigtown would close later this year, leaving the town with no bank.

In a meeting with a representative of Bank of Scotland, Finlay received assurances that the town would be serviced by a fully accessible mobile branch.

However, there had been concerns raised that with the branch due to close in the middle of the book festival, the town would be left with no banking facilities for the remainder of the festival, leaving visitors and local businesses with no alternative.

Today, after pressing the bank to find a solution, it has been confirmed that the mobile branch will step in to ensure that the town is fully serviced with banking facilities throughout the festival.

Commenting, Galloway and West Dumfries MSP, Finlay Carson said:

“I am very pleased that we have been able to find a solution to ensure that Wigtown has banking facilities throughout the Book Festival.

“During this busy time for the area it is important that businesses and visitors have access to banking facilities.

“The Wigtown Book Festival is a fantastic event which brings people from far and wide to the region to enjoy the culture, arts, crafts, food and drink that are on offer.”