BOLTON'S tax office has been saved from closure - but those at Bury and Leigh are to be closed.

HM Revenue and Customs initially identified 12 offices in the North-west to be closed as part of cost-cutting measures, including Stone Cross House in Churchgate, Bolton

But the town centre office, which employs 253 people, will now stay open.

Staff staged a protest outside the office and handed over a 700-strong petition to Bolton Council in a bid to save the office.

Under the closure plans, staff had been told they could relocate to Manchester but unions expressed fears that staff who are disabled or have family responsibilities would not be able to move.

Bolton Council held talks with officials in London to put forward their case, while Bolton North-east MP David Crausby also backed the battle to save the office.

He said: "I can understand why they want to rationalise the buildings, but many of those planned for closure only employ a small number of staff.

"Bolton has 250 employees to consider and it seems ridiculous to move those jobs to Manchester with the problems with traffic and congestion charging.

"They really should be transferring jobs out of Manchester.

"Bolton is being regenerated and is the place to be for businesses, not the place to leave.

"This is an excellent result, but I am concerned that jobs may still be lost even though the office has been saved."

Cllr Akhtar Zaman, Bolton's executive member for regeneration, said: "I'm pleased that the work we have done with HMRC, and specifically the delegation to London last year to lobby for the tax office to stay in Bolton, has been successful.

"Although we realise there may be some changes, the decision to overturn the original proposal and retain the offices at Stone Cross House in Churchgate is good news for people employed there.

"It is also good news for members of the public who will continue to benefit from the services of an inquiry office in the town centre."

Ten of the 18 offices in the North-west will be closed, including Minden Parade, Bury, and Boardman House, Leigh.

The move is expected to save £3.4 million and will be complete by 2011.