PLANS to close Bolton's Magistrates Courts were condemned by the town's justices last night as "undermining" local justice.

The Bolton bench called on the town to resist courts chiefs' proposals "by all legal means" after a special meeting at the New Packhorse Hotel.

The 127 justices heard the Greater Manchester Magistrates Courts Committee's (GMMCC) bosses explain the plans.

But they rejected claims by the chairman, James Olroyd and chief executive Glenys Stacey, that the closure would improve court provision across the county.

In a statement, the bench said it viewed the decision of the GMMCC as "one that undermines and will destroy the principle of local justice.

"We therefore call on the community of Bolton to resist the proposals by all legal means."

Ken Hanham, chairman of the Bolton bench, added that magistrates had been unimpressed with Mr Olroyd's and Mrs Stacey's explanation.

He said: "At the end of the day we were unconvinced that the recommendation was made for any other than economic reasons.

"The GMMCC needs to reduce the number of court rooms from 104 to something around 60.

"We have a busy and vigorous court and are suffering because other new courts in other parts of the county have been permitted to be built with spare accommodation."