Workington MP Sue Hayman has reiterated her call for the town's magistrates and county court to be saved following a visit there on Wednesday afternoon.

Mrs Hayman recently launched a joint petition with the Times & Star to stop West Cumbria's only court being closed and a day of action will take place tomorrow.

The court is one of 91 across the country under threat of closure. Its shutdown would force people to travel as far as Carlisle or Barrow to attend hearings.

Mrs Hayman said: "The visit helps me to understand what the impact would be if the closure goes ahead and the important issues.

"I was talking to some of the people who work there and the biggest concern is access to justice because of the distance a lot of people will have to travel."

The day of action will take place between 10am and 1pm in the town centre and members of the public are being invited to join it.

Those involved will meet at Workington's Trades Hall at 9.30am before taking to the streets.

Mrs Hayman also tweeted a link to the online petition which has attracted over 650 signatures since it was launched.

She added: "There are issues with access to public transport and our road structures are not brilliant and there is the fact that it's nerve-racking for some people to have to go to court.

"There are also concerns that you could have victims and perpetrators could be travelling together. The court in Workington is really important to the community and if it closes it will cause people hardship."

The petition can be signed online at www.timesandstar.co.uk and a copy is also available at the office on Oxford Street.