THE closure of court houses across North Yorkshire is causing concern for coroners who are having increasing difficulty finding places to hold inquests.

North Yorkshire has already seen ten court houses closed in the past seven years and a question mark hangs over a further three.

Their loss has meant coroners fighting for the limited availability of the handful of courts that remain.

Often inquests are held in rooms of civic buildings, including County Hall in Northallerton and The Galtres Centre, in Easingwold.

Michael Oakley, coroner for the eastern side of the county, said the closing of courts in towns such as Thirsk, Easingwold and Bedale, has caused increasing problems.

He said: "About five years ago getting a court at short notice was not a problem. Now, if it is a jury inquest we have to look a long time ahead."

At a recent inquest the relatives of the deceased felt unsettled in the formal and grandiose surroundings of County Hall.

Mr Oakley relies on the use of Pickering Court, which the Magistrates' Court Committee has earmarked for closure.

The committee closed smaller courts due to factors including lack of facilities for victims and witnesses, low usage and a lack of efficiency.

A committee spokesman said: "We are making the best use of our resources. We decided that there is a definite need for at least five court houses in the county and these will be Northallerton, York, Scarborough, Harrogate and Skipton."

The future of courts in Richmond, Pickering and Whitby remains uncertain, with an appeal lodged by North Yorkshire County Council to the Lord Chancellor against their closure.

A spokesman from the Lord Chancellor's office said: "The appeal will be decided by the courts minister Yvette Cooper. It will need careful consideration."