A council has set up a meeting with bank officials to discuss fears of huge job losses.

Managers at Barclays Bank in Hastings have agreed to meet MP Michael Foster and council leader Jeremy Birch over plans to close a town centre sales and finance branch and switch its work to India.

Mr Foster said the bank had assured him fewer than 200 jobs would be affected by the cost-cutting move.

He said: "I acknowledge it is not just Barclays exporting British jobs - but Barclays employees in Hastings have been making good profits for the company and it is not only short sighted but a betrayal of employee loyalty when companies act like this.

"We are hoping to stop any loss of jobs but will be telling Barclays that even if particular jobs are carried out elsewhere, Hastings provides an ideal centre for the creation of other areas of work."

The talks will take place in the next two weeks.

Workers were told of the company's plans in a face-to-face meeting but have threatened industrial action should the cuts go ahead.