<ROOT>
    <piidentifier>?</piidentifier>
    <item>
       <timestamp>?</timestamp>
       <general>
          <bpkind>?</bpkind>
          <bu_group>?</bu_group>
          <perm>
             <!-- Zero or more repetitions: -->
             <item>
                <perm_payee>?</perm_payee>
             </item>
          </perm> 
       </general>
       <bank>
          <item>
             <bkvid>?</bkvid>
             <bvtyp>?</bvtyp>
          </item>
       </bank>
    </item>
 </ROOT>

This is my input and output should be like –

<ROOT>
   <piidentifier>?</piidentifier>
   <timestamp>?</timestamp>
   <general>
      <bpkind>?</bpkind>
      <bu_group>?</bu_group>
      <perm>
         <!-- Zero or more repetitions: -->
            <perm_payee>?</perm_payee>
      </perm> 
   </general>
   <bank>
         <bkvid>?</bkvid>
         <bvtyp>?</bvtyp>
   </bank>
 </ROOT>

I need to remove all <item></item> node by keeping child node as it is from above example using groovy script XmlSlurper.
Any help is appreciated.