AN inquest will finally be held in York next month - more than eight years after a man's death.

John Dale, 63, from Harrogate, died at York Hospital on November 11, 2006, and his inquest will take place on November 26 at New Earswick Folk Hall.

This is the latest - and longest so far - in a series of badly delayed inquests going back to Donald Coverdale's time as York's Coroner.

An inquest was held last month into the death of a young woman called Naomi Coley-Rogan on the railway tracks at Dringhouses almost eight years earlier in September 2006, and earlier this month, there was a hearing into the death of Lord David Wharton, 56, of Tang Hall, in March 2007.

The Press reported in September how York’s new acting senior coroner, Jonathan Leach, had become aware of the delays when he was appointed to the position, following Mr Coverdale’s retirement in the summer.

He said a number of investigations had been outstanding for a number of years but did not specify which cases were affected

A spokesperson said then he was arranging as a matter of urgency for them to be concluded as soon as possible.

The Press has previously attempted to give Mr Coverdale opportunity to comment on the delays but he has not responded.

Judge Peter Thornton QC, the first Chief Coroner of England and Wales, said in his First Annual Report to the Lord Chancellor earlier this year that he had written to all coroners reminding them of the duty to set dates for inquests at the opening of an inquest and had repeatedly stressed the need in training and discussions for setting dates and having timely hearings.

The report added: "Recent decisions, following complaints against coroners made to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, show that a delayed inquest may lead to formal disciplinary action.

"The Chief Coroner will be writing to all senior coroners shortly so that they can report to him all coroner investigations which are more than one year from the death, requiring coroners to explain why each such investigation has not been completed or discontinued."