LUXURY Manchester Hilton Hotel is set to become a Nightingale Court in a bid to reduce the backlog of trials in the region.

The need for social distancing due to the coronavirus has meant reduced capacity for trials in the area's permanent crown courts at Bolton, Manchester Crown Square and Manchester Minshull Street.

In September last year a Nightingale Court was established at The Lowry Theatre in Salford to try cases where the defendants had not been remanded in custody.

Now, from Monday next week, a second Nightingale Court is opening in conference rooms at the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate, Manchester as an annex to Manchester Crown Court, enabling two further trials, including some Bolton cases, to take place at a time.