LOWESTOFT County Court is to stay open two days a week handle urgent matters.

Justice minister Jonathan Djanogly said a district judge would continue to sit at Lowestoft for two days a week – currently planned to be Mondays and Wednesdays – when the court closes on April 1.

On those days, urgent processes, such as issuing injunctions or applications to suspend a warrant of eviction, would be dealt with immediately, he said.

Mr Djanogly was responding to a letter from Waveney MP Peter Aldous seeking clarification on which services would be retained in Lowestoft. The minister also confirmed that documents could still be lodged at the court and court forms could be provided. There were no plans to close Lowestoft Magistrates' Court.

Mr Aldous said: 'I am pleased that we will be retaining what is, in effect, a part-time service at Lowestoft County Court. This at least means that local people have a counter service here in Lowestoft and that urgent matters can still be dealt with here.'