BOLTON West MP Julie Hilling, pictured, has given her support to a protest by probation officers over plans to privatise 70 per cent of the service.

Dozens of workers picketed outside Bolton Magistrates Court on Tuesday as part of a day-and-a-half long national walkout.

Ms Hilling said the government had failed properly trained probation officers in Bolton by making “damaging” decisions about the service.

She added: “To ensure former prisoners are rehabilitated and integrated back into society, we need a properly funded probation service. “Privatisation will dismantle that and hit their properly trained workers.”