TWO magistrates’ courts and a county court are to close in Dorset, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly announced last night.

Blandford and Wimborne courthouses are among 93 magistrates’ courts to shut and Poole county court is among 49 facing closure.

Dorset county councillors opposed the closure plans which will mean that the county will be served by only two main court centres based in Bournemouth and Weymouth.

Closing Blandford and Wimborne magistrates’ court will save total running costs of £168,280 a year.

The decision comes after previous closures of Bridport, Sherborne and Wareham magistrates’ courts.

Mr Djanogly said the court reform would “deliver a modern, efficient justice system with victims and witnesses at its centre” with money saved being ploughed back in to improving and modernising the court system.

Lyndhurst magistrates’ court in the New Forest is also set to shut as part of the cuts.