Community leaders have welcomed the government's decision to review coroner services following complaints from Jews and Muslims over delays in releasing bodies.

Senior representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities met Justice Secretary Michael Gove last month to discuss concerns over the service in London.

The two communities had clashed with senior coroner for Inner North London, Mary Hassell, over the scrapping of weekends and out-of-hours services , which has meant burials being delayed.

This week justice minister Caroline Dinenage announced the government would be looking at the issue across England and Wales as part of a wider coroner review.

Writing in the JC , she said: "I am determined to improve the situation… I want a coroners system which supports every faith and all of our communities and I will not rest until we achieve it."

This is a very positive move by the minister

Solicitor Trevor Asserson, who is leading a claim against Ms Hassell in the High Court, said: "I think this is a very positive move by the minister and I am very pleased that they listened to what we had to say.

"We are bringing a judicial review claim against Mary Hassell to challenge her decision to refuse a non-invasive autopsy/scan which we believe is in breach of the Human Rights Act.

"It is very gratifying to see the minister is stepping in to deal with Ms Hassell's refusal to offer an out-of-hours service, which we believe is also a breach of the Human Rights Act."

Rabbi Asher Gratt, who has been a member of the Adath Yisroel Burial Society for over 40 years and also met with Mr Gove, said: "This is fantastic news and a great comfort to the entire community. We hope that this will lead to a full and permanent resolution to the anguish that these families have suffered to date."

The Board of Deputies welcomed the review, believing it was long overdue.

Board vice president Marie van der Zyl said, “The Board has been campaigning for this for years, working with partners in other faith communities. We hope that this ushers in a new era of compassion and common sense in the coroner services.”