LOSS of custody cells due to the town's police station being demolished has dealt a huge blow to Wrexham says the town's MP.

Wrexham Magistrates Court is to lose a number of criminal cases from next week as they are switched to Mold, ahead of Wrexham Police Station being demolished later this year.

Currently, remand cases and first appearances are held in Mold Magistrates Court on Monday and Tuesday, and in Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

But from next week these cases will all be held in Mold because a cell block in Wrexham will be lost in the redevelopment of the police station.

The only cases which will remain in the town are those which do not require custody, and MP Ian Lucas who has long campaigned to keep a fully functioning magistrates court service in Wrexham, says even the temporary loss is a blow for the town.

He said: "This means Wrexham doesn't have a fully functioning magistrates court because of the closure of the police station.

"That is very serious because it means the biggest town in North Wales is effectively without a working court with cases transferred from Wrexham to Mold.

"It's bad for the solicitors based here, clients and witnesses from Wrexham and the town as a whole.

"Mold (court) is not easy to get to, it is not in the town centre, it is up by Theatr Clwyd and it is really important that this is a temporary measure."

Mr Lucas added that he was hopeful further discussion could see a full court service return to Wrexham but that there is no timescale on that happening as things stand.

He said: "After a great deal of persuasion I'm meeting with the court service on Friday (DEL - September 21) to see plans for the new cells in Wrexham. But they will need planning permission.

"I've also been in touch with Lidl, who are building on the site of the police station to make them aware there needs to be room for cells for the magistrates court.

"I'm pleased that there appear to be plans to be seen later this week, but this should have been resolved a long time before.

Demolition of the Bodhyfryd police station next to the magistrates court is set to begin soon, the building dating back to the 1970's and has reached the end of its life.

Supermarket giant Lidl formally entered a planning application to Wrexham Council for the police station site in August, set to create jobs for 25 to 40 staff, while up to 20 jobs could be created at a drive-thru coffee shop.

North Wales Police are moving the Wrexham base to a new £21.5 million station on the outskirts of Llay, expected to be operational shortly.

A new town centre station with a public front desk is also being created in the former Oriel Gallery at Wrexham Library.