BOLTON has won its year-long fight to save its magistrates courts and maintain local justice in the town.

The town will now either get a new multi-million pound courthouse or the six-figure sum will be spent on refurbishing the existing court building.

A recommendation to close Bolton Magistrates Court -- and transfer court cases to Bury and other surrounding towns -- was scrapped yesterday after fierce opposition.

Bolton Council chiefs, magistrates, solicitors and the town's three MPs greeted the news with delight today.

And they hailed the successful Bolton Evening News 'Save Our Courts' campaign -- which included a petition signed by more than 21,000 readers -- as a huge victory for local justice.

The campaign had also won the backing of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mr Blair told the Bolton Evening News: "I understand why this has caused concern in Bolton and I know the town's three MPs have been campaigning hard. The decision will mean a magistrates court with modern facilities for the town at last."

The controversial plan was announced by Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee last year.

Cases would have been switched to Bury with Bolton's 64-year-old courthouse closed down by December.

But a bid to attract funding was submitted to the Government just weeks before yesterday's last-ditch GMMCC meeting.

And in a U-turn last night the committee scrapped its original recommendation and approved the rebuilding or refurbishment plan. Officials will now work with Bolton Council to decide which option to take.

Janet Taylor, chairman of Bolton's magistrates bench, said today: "Whichever option we decide upon, it is going to cost millions and be very modern. I am absolutely delighted at a time when many magistrates courts have been closed all over the country.

"We would all like a new building and everybody has worked so hard. It is a credit to them."

The exact costs, and possible location for a new court building, have yet to be confirmed although any new courthouse WILL be ready for use by 2006.

Cheadle Square is one possible site which is being considered.

Campaigning solicitor Alan Walsh added: "The community has been brought together on this issue. We have succeeded in saving one of the cornerstones of justice in Bolton. It is magnificent news."

Steve Hughes, editor of the Bolton Evening News, said: "This is a victory for common sense.

"It would have been madness to close the magistrates court in a town the size of Bolton.

"We knew we were right, but the fight was won by everyone involved in the campaign and every one of the 21,638 people who signed our petition."

Cllr Guy Harkin, Deputy Bolton Council leader, also praised the Bolton Evening News campaign which he described as "common sense."

He said: "It would have been ridiculous for a town the size of Bolton to have been without a magistrates court.

"We now look forward to working with the GMMCC to ensure that Bolton has the most modern and up to date facilities available."

Salford's courthouse in Bexley Square has also been saved.