A LEADING family judge has branded the possible closure of courts in Leigh and Wigan as a "denial of justice" for people in the towns.

Speaking on his retirement from the circuit bench, Judge Peter Urquhart reacted to moves for civil cases to be dealt with at Manchester or Liverpool, instead of at the county courts in Leigh and Wigan.

He said: "I feel very strongly that it is wrong that everything should be done in Liverpool or Manchester.

"Wigan and Leigh are proud towns," said Judge Urquhart. "I feel it is a denial of justice that people should not be able to go to their own towns." The magistrates court at Leigh has already closed.

The 65-year-old judge who, as a successful Liverpool solicitor, briefed young barrister Tony Blair, added that travelling from Leigh and Wigan to Liverpool to attend court could pose problems. "The whole business of coming to a large city and a large court must be particularly daunting," he added.