A FREAK flood at Bolton Crown Court sparked fresh calls today to save the town's magistrates court from closure.

Excess rain water seeped into the cells at Bolton Crown Court, leaving them useless.

But rather than abandon yesterday's hearings, plans were quickly put in place to transfer a key case to the magistrates court.

Campaigners, who have joined the BEN in its fight to save the magistrates court, have jumped on the situation's irony.

Andrew Cresswell, partner at Garstang Solicitors, said: "It just shows how useful the magistrates court is when trouble strikes.

"I think this highlights yet another reason the court must not close."

The water seeped through drain pipes in the cells, covering the floor and forcing the court manager Phil Hagan to divert prisoners to other buildings.

Two cases were transferred to Manchester but one was held in Court Two at Bolton's magistrates building.

Workers spent much of yesterday draining the water and reopened the cells this morning.

Mr Hagan said: "It was not a major problem. We were able to make other arrangements very quickly.

"We have had to make sure it was drained out properly but it did mean the court being out of action for the whole day."

More than 1,000 people have backed the Bolton Evening News "Save Our Courts" campaign.

The paper is calling for the Lord Chancellor -- Lord Irvine of Lairg -- to personally intervene to ensure Bolton justice will continue to be administered in Bolton by local people.

The campaign followed a proposal put forward by the Greater Manchester Magistrates' Courts Committee to close the courts and send people for trial to Bury, Manchester and Trafford.

There was nobody available to make a comment at Bolton magistrates.