CORONERS have been praised for clearing a backlog of more than 400 inquests by a mayor who called the old service "inefficient and ineffective".

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon presented a Mayor’s Award to Acting Senior Coroner Clare Bailey, Assistant Coroner Malcolm Donnelly and their team from Teesside’s Coroner’s Service in a ceremony at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

By the end of 2014 only 12 cases were yet to be concluded and the average time taken to conclude an inquest is now around 12 weeks which is among the best nationally.

The service was overhauled last year due to a historic backlog in cases which at its worth totted up to more than 400.

There are many reasons why a coroner is legally obliged to hold an inquest including if the cause of death is unknown, violent or unnatural, sudden or unexplained.

Mr Mallon said: “Until recently, for a number of years the coroner’s service for the area had been inefficient and ineffective. I am pleased to say that it has made vast improvements.

“I have spoken to a number of families who have suffered bereavement over the past 12 months or so and all, without being prompted, have spoken highly of Clare Bailey and her team and the sensitive and empathetic way the inquest process is conducted.”

Ms Bailey said: “I am very proud of what we have been able to achieve. It has all been about team work, and has only been possible thanks to the great staff we have here in the Coroner’s Office whose work has been of great benefit to the people of Teesside."