Banks are attempting to push people into a cashless society, the ATM industry has claimed, as it warned that rural areas will be worst hit by an attack on free cash points.

Yesterday crisis talks between cash machine providers and banks, at least one of which wants to reduce the fees they pay for standalone cash points, failed to reach a resolution.

Unless an agreement is made around half of the free standalone cash points which make up LINK, the UK's network of ATMs, could disappear.

Millions of people living in rural areas could lose the ability to access bank notes and coins on a day-to-day basis, making them more reliant on "cashless" payments like bank cards, smartphones and online transactions.