GRIEVING families have spoken of the torment of waiting up to two-and-a-half years for inquests into their loved ones' deaths.

The families said the lengthy delays to the inquests at Teesside Coroner's Court have added to the trauma of their loss.

Yesterday, Redcar and Cleveland MP Vera Baird demanded to know, in a written parliamentary question to Home Secretary David Blunkett, why Teesside inquests took so long to complete.

She said: "It's very worrying, because people who are suffering from the delay have already suffered enormously from the loss of a loved one."

James Mann, of South Bank, Middlesbrough, spoke of his heartache yesterday after waiting almost two-and-a-half years for the inquest into his 29-year-old son Paul's death.

Paul, a father-of-one and also from South Bank, died on October 13, 1999, from a fatal injection of heroin.

A verdict of misadventure was recorded at the inquest at Teesside, in February this year. Mr Mann, 58, said: "We had to suffer and wait for nearly two-and-a-half years, yet it could have been done shortly after.

"When we called the coroner's office we were told Paul's file was at the bottom of a huge pile. But that length of time is ridiculous. It has wrecked me."

Parents Colin and Bridget Jacklin, of New Marske, east Cleveland, said the 19 months they had to wait for the inquest into their teenage daughter's death was cruel.

Lisa, 13, was found hanged in her bedroom in September 2000, but an open verdict was not recorded until last week.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield was unavailable for comment yesterday.

But spokesman for the Home Office, which handles legislation affecting coroners, said: "Inquests can take up to any amount of time.

"Where there are criminal proceedings, then sometimes it does protract the repercussions and implications on the coroner and his job."