PROGRESS has been made in the vision to launch a Bolton Law Centre to uphold 'the rights of the poor'.

Visitors to Bolton Library heard from key figures who are campaigning for a dedicated Bolton hub where residents can access free legal advice.

MP for Bolton South East, Yasmin Qureshi, guest speaker at the Bolton Needs a Law Centre public meeting, encouraged residents to champion for others.

Ms Qureshi, a barrister, said: "There is no point in having rights if you have no mechanism or way to exercise and enforce those rights.

"In my constituency, I have a lot of people coming to me who have been evicted, or are living in squalor, or are about to lose their jobs, or are being discriminated.

"Government is in the process of reviewing Legal Aid. We are keeping the pressure up on our side and I hope everyone here will continue to lobby your MPs over this issue."

The meeting was facilitated by Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC), a campaign that aims to see people across the city given access to free legal advice through a law centre.

Cuts in funding and Legal Aid - provision for those who are otherwise unable to afford legal representation - has reduced the nine fully staffed law centres in Greater Manchester to two; one in Rochdale and one in Bury.

Denise McDowell, trustee of GMLC, said: "If there is no Law Centre, there is no one who is going to help you with complex issues.

"Being able to go and see someone who knows about a particular area of law, who can help you, is really invaluable.

"A lot of people have expressed a real interest in seeing something like that come to Bolton."

Around 60 members of the public attended the meeting tonight (February 2), which included a Q&A session.

The campaign for a Bolton Law Centre is being backed by Bolton Trades Union Council (TUC).

Kev Allsop, from Bolton TUC, said: "There are people in the town who are doing brilliant work - Citizens Advice Bolton, the town hall, Bolton Unemployed Advice Centre - but the demand massively outstrips their capacity.

"They are overwhelmed.

"The social cost of what is happening is appalling.

"What I would like to see in Bolton is an organisation that can support people in need.

"A Law Centre would help reduce some of the pressure on other organisations and agencies."

More than a dozen residents expressed an interest in getting behind the campaign for a Bolton Law Centre.

Residents Jim and Jill Hollyman, who attended, said: "We are aware of so much need in Bolton.

"Hopefully this centre would give access to people who need legal advice.

"We are Christians and we really believe in helping everyone. Jesus was all about helping the needy and destitute."

Another meeting has been scheduled for February 15 to develop the plans. The venue is yet to be confirmed.