A GOVERNMENT Minister today said an announcement will be made "in the next few weeks" whether Bolton will get its long-awaited new magistrates court.

Mr Gary Streeter, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Lord Chancellor's office was speaking during a visit to the Le Mans Crescent Courts.

He saw the cramped conditions in the court building and a Youth Court in session.

The Minister was shown around by Bolton MPs Tom Sackville and Peter Thurnham, Clerk to the Magistrates Mr Peter Dawson, magistrates and representatives from Bolton Council.

And afterwards, he was presented with a bid for private finance initiative funding for the new court.

Mr Streeter dismissed fears that Bolton's courts would be merged with other town such as Wigan. He said: "Bolton clearly requires its own court.

"From the outside, this is a very impressive building, but I know that facades can be deceptive and I have already had a very descriptive account of the conditions here from Peter Thurnham."

He described Mr Dawson's office as "dreadful" and was horrified to hear that family courts have been held in there at busy times. Bolton is one of 12 towns bidding for the money.

A new court building was designed and expected to go ahead last year.

But 24 hours before contracts were due to be signed, the Government called off the deal.

Mr Streeter said today that if Bolton is chosen the money which went into the previous project "would not be wasted."

He added that Bolton would be "very carefully considered" and the pressure put on by local MPs "will count" when the decision is made.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.