THE Lord Chancellor's Department accidentally forgot to give Knutsford Sessions House the status it was awarded 48 years ago.

Public consultation documents, which will help to decide the future of the historic courthouse, describe it as a grade II listed building.

But when it was listed in December 1954, the now 184-year-old landmark was given a grade II* status for its importance to English Heritage. "We omitted the star from the consultation letter and our press releases," said a spokesman for the Lord Chancellor's Department on Monday. "It was an unfortunate mistake but we are well aware of the building's status and have maintained it under the grade II* guidelines." On Monday English Heritage historic buildings inspector Peter de Figueiredo said the small symbol could have major implications for the future of Knutsford's grand courthouse.

"The star means that the building is of greater national importance," he said. "This would make it harder for a developer to win permission to demolish or change the Sessions House."

Both the interior and the outward structure of buildings with a grade II* status are listed, which means even slight moderations require planning permission.But the award - given to important buildings of more than a special interest - does not guarantee the Sessions House can be saved from the bulldozers. "Listed buildings are not exempt from demolition or modification," said Mr de Figueirdo. ""The council and English Heritage will take the status into consideration, but we would have to look at whether the building is economically viable as it stands."