Legal changes have caused a “significant rise in case volume” at Gwent Coroner’s Service, meaning nearly three-quarters of new inquest hearings have missed a scheduling target.

Newport City Council, which manages the service, reported just 27.3% of new cases since April have been listed for inquest within six months after they were opened.

In each of the previous three years, more than 90% of new cases were heard within six months.

Mike Wallbank, the council’s head of law and standards, told a scrutiny committee the delays were down to “a couple of reasons… which have coalesced together and created something of........

© South Wales Argus