Jeremy Corbyn has expressed his “concern” at the distress Jewish and Muslim communities in north London are experiencing over a senior coroner’s failure to respect religious burial requirements.

The Labour leader’s constituency of Islington North is under the jurisdiction of Mary Hassell, who is embroiled in a bitter dispute with local Jews and Muslims over her refusal to release bodies for quick burials.

Mr Corbyn told the JC: “I have been approached by the Jewish and Muslim communities in Islington and I'm very concerned about the stress families are going through in not being able to complete burials in line with their faiths.

"I fully support their efforts to ensure public services respect their religious beliefs and traditions - and the coroner service should be no exception."

A Jewish burial society has launched an official complaint against Ms Hassell.