A TOTAL of 13,000 people have signed a petition to save Bolton Magistrates' Court.

But council chiefs and magistrates say the fight must go on and today called for residents to double their efforts.

Janet Taylor, chairman of the Bolton bench, said: "We need 20,000 signatures to make the Government sit up and listen to our demands. Please sign the petition."

An official consultation period ends on Friday, March 29. Residents are asked to respond to 10 questions in the consultation document and raise general representations.

Groups or individuals can submit their views to the Greater Manchester Magistrates' Courts Committee (GMMCC) before plans are formally submitted to the Government.

A decision could be announced by May with the closure date likely to be in December. But people in the town still have the chance to make a difference.

The Bolton Evening News petition will be taken to the Lord Chancellor's office before the end of the consultation period and a special action team is currently working to put together a response. There are also plans to try to secure vital funding.

Bolton Council has said refurbishment or building a new court are feasible options and the GMMCC claims closing the Le Mans Crescent building is not a foregone conclusion.

Bolton Evening News editor Steve Hughes said: "Thirteen thousand signatures shows how important people think the magistrates court is. I am delighted with the figure but we want more. We must continue our efforts until the fight is won."

Magistrates managed to boost hopes of keeping the court open when they encouraged shoppers to sign the petition at Tesco in Middlebrook, attracting more than 3,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, an independent interim report assessing the impact that closing the court would have on associated bodies across Bolton has been completed. Professor Bill Kapilla's full report, commissioned by Bolton Council, is expected early next month.

Copies of the consultation document are available from the GMMCC and Bolton Council -- call 0161 832 7272.

Send completed petition forms by early March to: Save our Courts Campaign, Bolton Evening News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE. For details on where to sign it, call the BEN on 01204 537 227.

Alternatively, cut out a copy of the petition on the right and, when completed, send it to the BEN.