One of the recommendations in a review of rural courts is that Mildenhall, together with courts at Sudbury and Ely, should be axed.

Pauline Cornford, area director of Her Majesty's Court Service for Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, said the review of local court services began last year and an internal report had been published on Friday.

"Within that report were a number of recommendations to be considered.

These included the closure of Ely, Mildenhall and Sudbury magistrates' courts as well as other recommendations regarding the use of the courts across the area," she said.

According to the report, Mildenhall court is an "under-utilised asset that should be disposed of."

But retired magistrate and Mildenhall councillor Nigel Roman has condemned the closure plan saying it would be the end of local justice for local people.

"Mildenhall Court is very important in the administration of local justice as many of the people it deals with would have difficulty getting to courts anywhere else, especially if they don't have a car," said Cllr Roman.

"This review is very bad news and a very worrying development for Mildenhall. I am very much against it and I think we need more consultation. Our local government is under threat and we do not want to lose our local justice."

The last major court review in this area was in the late 1990s. This resulted in the axing of Newmarket court on December 31, 1998, together with the closure of courts in Haverhill, Felixstowe, Stowmarket and Saxmundham.

Most of Newmarket's workload was transferred to Mildenhall.

Mrs Cornford said no decision had been made as to whether the proposed closure of Mildenhall court would go ahead.

In a statement she said she and her team would be having further discussions and meetings with magistrates, judges and staff to agree how to proceed.

"It is far too early to suggest any possible closure dates at this time." said Mrs Cornford.