Barristers held a silent protest outside Bradford Crown Court today against Government plans to overhaul the legal aid system.

The protest was in support of the stance by The Bar Council, representing barristers in England and Wales, which claims the proposals threaten to destroy the "world-renowned" British justice system.

The Bar Council today published its response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on legal aid reform and said the plans for price competitive tendering promoted the "lowest possible quality of service" and would result in further changes to civil legal aid, hitting society's most vulnerable people.

Solicitors, who also oppose the reforms, held a simultaneous silent protest outside Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.