More than 50 inquiries into deaths handled by Essex coroner's service had been open for more than a year at the end of 2020, figures reveal.

A backlog of cases worsened by the coronavirus pandemic means bereaved people across England and Wales are facing delays in their wait for inquests to be held, experts say.

Ministry of Justice figures show 236 inquests into deaths were being dealt with by Essex coroner's service at the end of 2020.

Of those, 54 had been open for over a year, including 11 open for at least two years. That is an increase from the 13 open a year or more in 2019.

Inquests are held to investigate sudden, unnatural or violent deaths, those which are from unknown causes and those occurring where there is a legal requirement to conduct an investigation, such as in prison custody or while someone is sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

They should be completed within six months of a coroner being made aware of a death, or as soon as practically possible after that.

Cases involving complex legal or medical issues, or deaths abroad, can cause lengthy waits and coroners must report investigations lasting more than a year to the Lord Chancellor.

The Law Society said existing delays within the criminal court system, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, also impact coroner services, with inquests adjourned where they are linked to on-going investigations, prosecutions or active Crown Court cases.

President Stephanie Boyce said waiting times across England and Wales at the end of 2020 - with more than 3,250 inquests open for more than a year waiting to be processed - reflect a "general lack of investment in the justice system".

It took an average of 21 weeks for Essex coroner's service to process an inquest last year, less than the national average of 27 weeks and representing an increased processing time compared to 18 weeks in 2019.

A MoJ spokesperson said the pandemic had posed significant challenges but praised coroners and their staff for continuing to deliver vital services.

The Government provided local authorities with £4.6 billion to help them through the pandemic and wrote to councils to remind them of their responsibilities in ensuring coroner services remain operational, the MoJ said.

The department also highlighted a £110 million investment aimed at boosting recovery within the court system and said the number of outstanding criminal court cases had fallen since summer 2020.