Could a Bank of Northumberland work?

The MP for Hexham, Guy Opperman, has given further details of his hopes for a new type of hyper-local bank.

Mr Opperman believes that each council area could, subject to government approval, have its own bank that could offer a range of financial services to people living in that particular area.

To help kickstart the process he wants ministers to hand over shares in RBS (the bank now 83% owned by the taxpayer) to every voter.