THE BEN's campaign to save Bolton's Magistrates Court has secured high-powered national support.

Harry Mawdsley, chairman of the England and Wales Magistrates Association, threw his weight behind the campaign during a visit to the town.

He joined 3,000 BEN readers by adding his signature to our petition to save the court.

Mr Mawdsley, whose views are likely to carry weight with the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, said it was "inconceivable" that a town of Bolton's size should lose its magistrates court.

He added: "I fully support the campaign to keep the courts open and will do everything in my power to do that.

"I was impressed with the court buildings overall and plan to raise this issue with the Lord Chancellor's department."

Mr Mawdsley is the latest high-profile figure to lend his support to the BEN's campaign, joining Bolton MPs Dr Brian Iddon, David Crausby and Ruth Kelly plus the town's leading lawyers and magistrates.

The Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee (GMMCC) wants to close the courts, which it says are too old to modernise.

Under its plans Bolton's cases will be dealt with by magistrates in Manchester, Trafford and Bury instead.

But its decision has come under fire for threatening to take access to justice away from Bolton people.

It is due to publish its consultation document on the proposed closure later this month.

So far it has only said that the building's "inherent constraints" make it impossible to modernise. Comment: Page 10