TODAY (Friday) marks the end of an era for local justice as Kendal's courthouse closes its doors for good.

The closure comes almost 25 years to the day since HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the £2 million building at Burneside Road.

The Westmorland Gazette launched a campaign in 2015 to save the court - Keep Justice Local - which was backed by local solicitors who voiced fury at the Ministry of Justice's decision.

Suzie Kavanagh, associate solicitor at Milne Moser, told the Gazette today's closure was "a travesty" and would have an unfair impact on victims and witnesses, who now faced travelling to courts in Barrow-in-Furness and Lancaster to see justice done.

Mrs Kavanagh said a limited number of cases may be heard at Kendal Town Hall using a video link, but she questioned the effectiveness of technology's role in dispensing justice.

Retired magistrate John Chew, of Heversham, said he was "deeply saddened" to see South Cumbria Magistrates' Court shut - describing it as "the only bastion of justice in the immediate location".

Cumbria's police and crime commissioner Peter McCall, meanwhile, told the Gazette he could see "both sides of the argument".

"Given the Ministry of Justice tell us it's only used 13 per cent of its capacity, it's difficult to construct an argument that says it's economically viable, at a time when budgets are very, very tight, so I can see that side of the story," said Mr McCall.

"On the flip side to that, given the nature of our county and how difficult it can be to get around, I can see how it could also cause problems, particularly for victims and witnesses and that's where my sympathy lies because in order for justice to work we need to see justice for victims and we absolutely rely on witnesses being able to give evidence."

Mr McCall said he had been "very keen" for a witness suite to be created at Kendal Police Station to alleviate people's difficulties in having to travel to Barrow or Lancaster to give evidence. He said the suite was ready and "good to go".

Mr McCall said he would be keeping a watchful eye on whether extra pressure was placed on police officers as a result of the court's closure, such as time taken to transport prisoners to Barrow or Lancaster.

- For full coverage see next week's Gazette