THE battle to keep the magistrates court in Trowbridge has received a boost.

Westbury MP Andrew Murrison has received written parliamentary answers from magistrates' court minister, Yvette Cooper, that he says demonstrate the need to retain it.

Dr Murrison asked the minister what proportion of court cases failed because of non-attendance of witnesses or defendants.

In her response she pointed to a pilot scheme that demonstrated that over half of adjourned trials were the results of witnesses or defendants failing to attend.

Dr Murrison said: "Recently a local policeman told me that it was difficult enough getting witnesses and defendants to attend Trowbridge courthouse and that if they had to travel to Chippenham he would have no chance at all.

"The minister's revelations underline the need to ensure that we have local access to courthouses and I shall be raising this with her in my meeting next week."