Insurer Axa is cutting 450 jobs in branches of The Co-operative Bank and Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks under plans to cease face-to-face financial advice.

The banking arm of the Co-operative Group will today offer everyday-banking services from an additional 250 high street branches as it completes the integration of Britannia Building Society.

A call for moves to reduce exposure to both very persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals has been signed by more than 60 top independent UK and European scientists, according to WWF, the global environment network.