WORCESTER'S new magistrates court is on target to be completed by the New Year.

The West Mercia Magistrates Service has said rumours about any delay are unfounded and the court on Castle Street will be operational in January.

The court building, next to the new £10m divisional police headquarters, started construction at the turn of the year.

"There have been some delays throughout the project," said Fiona Cooksey, interim resources manager with the Magistrates Service.

"But people forget what the weather was like.

"This was at a crucial time of the project but everything is going all right now."

The building will house six courtrooms and accommodation for solicitors, the Crown Prosecution Service, Worcester Witness Service, and probationers.

"Everyone will have a space," said Ms Cooksey.

"I went round it the other week and things are really moving.

"With the wind in the right direction we hope to be open on time."

Ms Cooksey also announced that the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, would be officially opening the courts in February. Magistrates courts come under the jurisdiction of the Lord Chancellor's department.

The Lord Chancellor appoints judges on behalf of the Queen, is The Speaker of the House of Lords, and sits in the Cabinet with other senior Ministers.

The new magistrates court is part of a £25m improvement package including new courts in Hereford and Kidderminster and refurbished courts at Redditch.

It is part of a programme of 10 private finance initiatives (PFI) by the Government to build and refurbish magistrates courts nationwide.

The former Worcester magistrates building in Deansway was closed in April after the police station transferred its operations to Castle Street.

Court appearances are currently being shared between magistrates in Evesham and Droitwich.