NATIONWIDE has revealed that a cash machine operator which charges for withdrawals wanted to buy all the building society's "remote" machines those not attached to branches.

The remote machines include the one outside the Victoria Road post office wall in Old Town.

Yesterday executive director Stuart Bernau was questioned by the Government's treasury select committee and told MPs that hardly any free cash machines are being added to the network.

As reported in the Advertiser yesterday, Mr Bernau warned that although current use of charging machines is only at five per cent, it is likely to rise.

Afterwards Mr Bernau said: "The committee's enquiry has shed much-needed light on the whole issue of fee-charging cash machines.

"It is in the interests of consumers that charges should be fair and transparent and this has already had some impact on ensuring there is greater transparency. We strongly believe that more remains to be done to safeguard the UK's network of free cash machines.

"The rising number of charging machines has serious social consequences and we don't want to look back in five years and say 'remember when access to cash was free?'"