A CORONER criticised for a backlog of 200 inquests has welcomed a Government inquiry into the delays.

Lord Falconer, The Lord Chancellor has ordered an investigation into the performance of Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield.

His intervention follows complaints from relatives, a bereavement support group and MPs about the backlog of inquests on Teesside.

Mr Sheffield, who has served as Teesside Coroner for more than 30 years, says the backlog of cases has been caused by a shortage of staff to prepare files.

He said he has submitted a suggestions to the Government to speed up the process.

"I have received a letter from the Lord Chancellor dated July 24, but I have been busy holding and dealing with inquests, so I have not yet had time to properly consider its contents," he said.

"I do welcome the inquiry being made and hope the terms of the inquiry will enable the cause of the backlog of inquests to be inquired into.

"I also hope consideration will be given to the draft plan which I had already prepared and sent to the Home Office and Cleveland Police, showing how the outstanding cases can be prepared by the Coroner's officers and heard by me within an acceptable period of time."

Delaine Elliott's wish is that the Lord Chancellor's inquiry will mean no-one else will have to suffer the agonising wait she had to endure for an inquest to be completed into the death of her son, Mark.

He died in 1999 after taking an overdose of heroin. Mrs Elliott had to wait 23 months for the inquest to be completed.

"I just hope people don't have to be put through the same things, we were. Obviously, we were upset about it,'' said Mrs Elliott, who lives in Saltburn, east Cleveland.

"It makes everything long and drawn out. You are left hanging about all the time. We just kept getting excuses. They kept putting us off, saying they were gathering evidence.

" I would get in touch with the coroner's office and every time I asked what was happening I was told 'we'll let you know'. It was ridiculous.''

Ron Hogg, deputy chief constable of Cleveland Police said: "We welcome the review, as will many of the families in Cleveland who have faced intolerable delays over inquests into the deaths of relatives.''