INQUESTS at Bournemouth Town Hall are being disrupted by wedding parties using the building’s registry office.

Dorset Coroner’s Court moved into the town hall at the end of 2016 and uses a suite of offices in the Western wing near the council chamber, which is itself sometimes used for inquests.

However until recently most have been held in the Tregonwell room, on the other side of the corridor from the registry office.

On Monday an inquest into the death of a two-month-old baby held there was periodically interrupted by the sound of loud applause or laughter from the neighbouring room.

Past inquests attended by the Echo have also been affected by noise, including one where a bagpiper was stationed in the car park outside.

Gary Josey, Bournemouth council director of housing and communities, which includes the court, said: “We are aware of the proximity of the rooms for our wedding ceremonies and the room previously used for inquest hearings, and with weddings only taking place on a Thursday and Friday, every effort has been taken to avoid inquests on these days where possible.

“We are committed to making further improvements for the benefit of all visitors to the town hall and as a result we have created a second court room which will be the main room for inquests, with the Tregonwell room only used on occasion when two inquests run concurrently.

“The new inquest room opened in April.

“We are also in the process of opening new waiting rooms for families and members of the public attending inquests which are away from the main town hall reception where wedding parties wait.”

The borough has also defended the current need for members of the public to wait in the town hall lobby for admittance by a coroner’s officer. As with all court hearings, inquests can be accessed by the public at any time to ensure proceedings are open and fair.

A spokesman said: “An inquest is a very difficult time for families and they can be very distressed, therefore they are admitted and seated first before the court is in session and this gives the coroner’s officers the opportunity to speak with them and reassure them of what will happen.

“Once the families are settled then members of the public are invited into the court room.”