ONE of Britain's biggest building societies has issued a "use it or lose it" warning to customers of two poorly performing Wiltshire branches.

Portman building society said if branches in Wootton Bassett and Melksham continued to make losses, it would have no alternative but to shut them.

In total there are nine branches around the country that have been put on probation, and three others that will definitely shut.

But the nine will be given extended opening hours to encourage greater use.

Portman said it wants as many customers as possible to use the society to prove it is still needed in Wootton Bassett.

The Portman, Britain's fourth-largest society, has come under fire in the past from local communities affected by its branch closure programme.

The Bournemouth-based society has shut eight branches since 1999.

The branches whose futures hang in the balance are mainly in the south-west of England.

Brian Taylor, president of Wootton Bassett chamber of trade, said: "The Portman building society has been part of the community for a long time.

" It would be sad to see it go."

Matthew Wyles, the Portman's group development director, said: "If you value this facility then we need you to demonstrate that practically, rather than just assuring us that is the case.

"Frankly, we need a viable business case to make this work."

However, he said the society was keen to give the initiative a chance to succeed.

The Portman claimed its approach differed markedly to that of other banks and building societies, which simply announced that certain branches were closing, with no consultation.

The three definitely closing are in Lewisham, south-east London, Thatcham, Berkshire, and New-quay, Cornwall.

These changes will leave the Portman, which merged with the Staffordshire building society last year, with approximately 145 full-time branches

The nine branches affected are in Braunton, Devon; Hassocks and Selsey, both in West Sussex; New Alresford, Hampshire; Penzance, Cornwall; Parkstone and West Moors, both in Dorset, and finally Melksham and Wootton Bassett, both in Wiltshire.

Tom Morton