TATTON MP George Osborne has secured a 30-minute emergency debate in the House of Commons.

This afternoon he will argue the town's case to retain local justice.

On Friday, after he had signed the Knutsford Guardian's petition to save the Sessions House, he said he would demand answers from the Lord Chancellor.

"I will have 15 minutes to explain why we want the courthouse to remain open," he said.

"Then a minister from the Lord Chancellor's Department will have to come public over why the Government is doing this."

The Guardian last week revealed that the Government had begun a three-week consultation over the closure of Knutsford Crown Court.

Petition

Labour claims it will cost nearly £5million to improve the court to modern standards and will save £100,000 annually if it shuts.

Mr Osborne, who helps Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith prepare for Prime Minister's Question Time, immediately asked the Commons Speaker for time to raise the matter in Parliament.

"I was thrilled to get the chance to raise the profile of this and I think both Granada and the BBC are interested in what is happening," he said.

Hundreds of residents have now signed the Guardian's petition to save the courthouse, but still have until Friday to sign their names.

Mr Osborne will then deliver the petition to the Government in time for the end of the consultation on May 1.

"The second battle would be to save the building, but first I want to focus on keeping the crown court in Knutsford," he said.