TWENTY thousand people have signed a Bolton Evening News petition to help save the town's closure-threatened magistrates court -- and the fight goes on.

Council chiefs, solicitors and magistrates have repeated their call for people to pledge their support and sign the document in a bid to halt plans to close the Le Mans Crescent building in December.

Janet Taylor, chairman of the Bolton bench, said: "We need more signatures to make the Government sit up and listen to our demands. Please do all you can to sign."

The consultation period for the controversial plan is expected to end on Friday, March 29. Residents have been asked to respond to 10 questions and raise general representations.

Bolton's formal response to the proposals is expected to be finalised at the Action Group's next meeting on Thursday. It is expected to detail financial proposals for refurbishment or building a new court.

The results of an independent study into the effects of closing the court is also expected to be completed. Council chiefs will then submit their response to the Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee - and the Bolton Evening News will take the petition to London.

MPs, Euro MPs, churches and Bolton celebrities will all be asked to join the fight by writing letters to GMMCC officials. A final decision will be made at a meeting scheduled for May 22 and Bolton Council will be informed of the court's fate within five days.

Council chiefs then have a month in which to lodge a formal appeal with the Lord Chancellor.

Bolton Council has said refurbishment or building a new courthouse are feasible options and the GMMCC claims closing the building is not a foregone conclusion.

Bolton Evening News editor Steve Hughes said: "20,000 signatures shows how important people think the magistrates court is. I am delighted with the figure but we want more."

Please send all fully completed petition forms by the end of April to 'Magistrates Court Appeal, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper house, Churchgate, Bolton BL1 1DE. For details of how and where to pledge support contact 01204 537227.