RESIDENTS in Norton are used to finding cashpoints in unusual places - but the latest one is the strangest yet.

Regulars at the Derwent Arms, Church Street, can now get to their cash without hiking all the way to Malton if they are caught short in need of a pint.

But landlord Darren Rushworth said having a cashpoint inside the pub didn't just mean spending more money behind the bar.

He said: "The idea came about because there are no 24-hour cashpoints for people to go to in Norton if they want cash, especially on a Sunday.

"The amount of transactions it does are unbelievable. It shows that people need a cashpoint in a convenient place."

Norton's last bank, a branch of Natwest, closed two years ago. And since then residents and businesses have campaigned to have a service reinstated.

Mr Rushworth said it was inconvenient having nowhere in the town to get cash out late at night. He added: "It's a safety thing as well so people aren't going right into Malton on their own at night. It's been very successful and it gets used a tremendous amount - a lot more than I expected it would."

Norton Mayor Keith Mennell said the town council had been battling for more recognition. He said: "It's something we have been pushing for two years. We want the banks to take an interest in Norton and have written asking if there is any hope of a branch opening. We got the feedback that they did not feel it was really necessary as there were already cashpoints and banks in Malton."

Several Norton businesses, including the Commercial Street branch of Costcutter and Tyke's filling station on Welham Road, have installed cashpoints in their stores.

But once they close at 9pm and 10pm residents in Norton had to travel to Malton for cash before the Derwent Arms installed its machine.

Mr Mennell said it was sad that no one seemed to recognise the obvious need for a bank and 24-hour cashpoints in Norton. He said: "It takes a good half hour to walk into Malton, and for elderly residents even longer."

A spokeswoman for Natwest said: "The Norton branch was closed more than four and a half years ago, and now we have a policy of not closing any further branches in rural areas. There are no plans at the moment to open a branch in Norton because of the proximity to Malton, but we are always open to customer feedback and suggestion."

Updated: 11:10 Thursday, December 20, 2001