A NEW restaurant could be set to open in an empty bank in the heart of Stockton Heath.

The Barclays Bank unit, on Walton Road, has been closed since June after the banking giant said customers had gone online or were using other branches.

Now a planning application has been submitted to turn the empty building into a restaurant.

It would seat around 50 people and include a downstairs kitchen.

Natwest is now the only bank open in Stockton Heath.

Lloyds turned into the Olive Tree Greek restaurant last year while HSBC closed its branch in 2016 – it later reopened as Zalo's cafe.