PEOPLE in Bolton are being urged to join a letter writing campaign to save the town's magistrates court -- as the BEN's petition tops the 4,000 mark.

The public are being asked to put pen to paper to try to persuade the Lord Chancellor, the country's top legal adviser, that the Le Mans Crescent building should not close.

The BEN's petition has already been signed by 4,000 angry readers and people are now being asked to send letters to Lord Irvine of Lairg, who will have the ultimate say regarding the magistrates court's future.

Des Grogan, who is a main player in the campaign at Bolton Council, said: "We are hoping sending letters to the Lord Chancellor will help. The more protests we have the better our chances will be."

The BEN exclusively revealed in July that the Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee intended to close Bolton because it was "not tenable" to retain it. Work would be transferred to Bury, Trafford and Manchester city centre if the proposals went ahead.

Only months before the Lord Chancellor had given permission in principle to plans to either extend the current courthouse or build a new one at a cost of £25m.

The total cost would have been met at first by the private sector and then shared between the Lord Chancellor's department, Bolton Council and other local authorities in Greater Manchester over 25 years.

The GMMCC said it will not comment on the proposals until a consultation document is published, which is expected before the end of this month.

Anyone wishing to write a letter can send it to the Lord Chancellor via Mr Grogan, assistant director of central services, Central Services Department, the Town Hall, Bolton, BL1 1RU.

Copies of the BEN's petition can still be signed at the reception of our offices at Newspaper house, on Churchgate.