The Midlands is the region hardest hit by the closure of 166 courts in England and Wales over the past five years, while London has been least affected, the Gazette has learned through a Freedom of Information response.
Since the beginning of 2009, just 14 courts have closed in Greater London, an area which serves a population of around 8.2 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.
In contrast 42 courts in the Midlands, covering a population of 10.1 million, were closed during the same period.