West Cumbria's court has been saved.

More than 3,000 people signed a petition against the move.

The Government said that closing the court at Workington would deny people access to justice.

The Ministry of Justice announced the results of its consultation yesterday.

It said: “A significant number of responses referred to the difficulties of travelling due to the rural nature of the area, in particular, the length of the journey and the lack of availability and infrequency of public transport from the more isolated areas of West Cumbria.

“We have explored the possibility of alternative provision in this area, and has concluded that a viable option cannot be identified at the current time.”

It was among 91 across England and Wales earmarked for closure by the Government because they are said to be under-used.

She pointed out that Carlisle’s magistrates court was unusable because of flooding there recently.

Copeland MP Jamie Reed said: "This is a victory for common sense and for those who worked so hard, including local law firms to keep the court open and I pay tribute to the efforts of everyone involved.

“It is essential that local people can access services such as these in a timely manner. Today’s good news means that people won’t have to travel to Barrow or Carlisle to access court services - a vital service for my constituents."