A PERSONAL delivery service is available for people in the Leigh area who urgently require copies of birth, death or marriage certificates.

Or, in less urgent cases, applicants who call and leave details at Leigh Register Office have been told replacement documents will be posted to them first class the same day from Wigan.

Highlighting the service a Wigan Council spokesman refuted some Leigh councillors' claims that those Leigh people who wanted documents urgently would have to travel to Wigan.

The spokesman said:"Leigh office is very busy and occasionally staff need time to process applications. Clear arrangement have been made so Leigh residents do not have to leave town to get replacement certificates.

"There can only be one office where records are kept within any registration district. In many cases within other registration areas the delay is not just a day. It can be up to seven weeks."

Cllr Brian Jarvis, one of four Leigh councillors, who complained to The Journal that certificates weren't available at Leigh on demand said:"I'm far happier with this development since we highlighted the situation."

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