SOUTH Cumbria Magistrates' Court is set to close its doors at the end of June despite fears that it will remove 'access to local justice'.

In 2015 the Kendal court was named as one of 91 that could be closed, prompting The Westmorland Gazette to launch its 'Keep Justice Local' campaign.

Local solicitors expressed fury at the announcement, saying it would cause massive delays in the legal system, increase police workload and disadvantage the most vulnerable members of society.

Suzanne Kavanagh, an associate solicitor for Milne Moser solicitors which has offices in Kendal, said that local people would 'suffer' as a result of the closure.

"For me a court is important for local people to have access to local justice," she said. "To completely remove a purpose-built modern court from an area - particularly a geographical area such as ours - I think it's only local people that will suffer."

Kendal’s court building deals with criminal court business in the adult and youth courts, family court work such as adoption hearings and civil work including divorce, housing possession and bankruptcy.

The closure is part of a wider money-saving initiative. According to the Ministry of Justice, maintaining 'under-used and dilapidated court buildings' costs the taxpayer £500 million a year but some courts sit for less than half the time available.

A HM Courts and Tribunals Service Spokesperson said: "We have a world-leading legal system and are investing over £1 billion to reform and digitise our courts to deliver swifter justice.

"Closing under-used and dilapidated court buildings will allow us to reinvest in the justice system and make the best use of technology. This will improve access to justice and improve the experience for all court users, in particular vulnerable victims and witnesses."

In a last ditch attempt to save the court, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has written to the Justice Secretary with a plea to keep the court open.

"The blow that this will deliver for access to local justice is incalculable," he said. "Under the new system some local residents will have to travel up to two-and-a-half hours to Barrow or Lancaster to access the justice system, and this journey will come at considerable cost.

“This decision shows a total disregard for rural communities like ours. Justice will be diminished as people will be put off going to court because of the time and money involved."

The court will close almost 25 years to the day since it was officially opened by Princess Anne.