Solicitors also claim criminals who leave court in Liverpool, not having enough cash to get back to homes elsewhere in Merseyside, might be tempted to commit crimes to raise funds.

The knock-on effects of pulling agencies such as the police, probation service, the Crown Prosecution Service and the clerks and magistrates into Liverpool may cost more than the £20,000 central saving, the society adds.

John Ballam, chair of the Criminal Practice Committee, told LDP Legal: "Wirral and Liverpool courts are both already busy. With Bootle and the others, taken together, it would result in an all- day sitting on Saturday.

"And there’s going to be difficulties for everyone getting to Liverpool."

"The saving of £20,000 will be a court saving but it will push the costs up for all the agencies and for the families of defendants."Criminal lawyers are already feeling the pinch because of cuts to legal aid. The law society say the changes would throw an unnecessary extra burden on a hard-pushed part of the sector.

A spokesman for Her Majesty’s Courts Service said: "The majority of Saturday and Bank Holiday magistrates cases are already heard at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court, and we need to ensure that we get value for tax payers’ money.

"No decisions have yet been made to move Saturday or Bank Holiday cases to Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. We are at the initial stage of consultation and are looking at all the representations that have been made to us."