Custody court cases set for axe in Burnley

ANOTHER major shake-up of the magistrates courts system in East Lancashire has been criticised by a senior county councillor and a former MP. Ministry of Justice bosses have confirmed Burnley, Pendle and Magistrates Court will no longer take custody cases from May 1. Remand hearings and sentencings potentially involving prison terms will then take place at Blackburn, according to the HM Courts Service.