FRIENDS of Essex House have been left in “no man’s land” by the bank after a change of treasurer.

The secretary of Friends of Essex House Medical Centre has thanked the public for their generous donations and assured them that purchases for the surgery will resume soon.

Rose Kneil said: “Further to our report in the press in the first week of August, we announced we had appointed a new treasurer, Judy Holman, at our meeting. Purchases had been agreed and we were going ahead with those. I am sorry to tell you we have been unable to carry on with those purchases for the surgery.

“This is due to our account effectively being frozen for nearly three months by Lloyds Bank. We have been unable to get Mrs Holman’s signature authorised. There have been extensive delays and despite all our phone calls, letters and personal visits we have got nowhere.”