Staff at the new coroner's office in Norwich today pledged to make a very difficult process easier for families, thanks to better office facilities and more training for staff.

Staff at the new coroner's office in Norwich today pledged to make a very difficult process easier for families, thanks to better office facilities and more training for staff.

The new system of dealing with inquests in Norfolk started earlier this month with just one coroner having jurisdiction over the whole county.

William Armstrong, who has been a coroner for 15 years, is now HM Coroner for the whole county, based at a newly established office in Thorpe Road, Norwich.

Mr Armstrong said his priority as coroner was to provide the best service for relatives of the deceased, and the new offices in Thorpe Road, were designed to achieve that.

The offices will be used for inquest openings, held shortly after a death, while full inquests will continue to be held at other venues such as the Assembly House in Norwich.

The coroner's office was previously based in Barrack Street, Norwich, but the building was cramped, had no reception, and was inadequate to cater for the needs of bereaved families.

As reported, Mr Armstrong took on the coroner service for the Great Yarmouth area following the retirement of the former part-time coroner for the Yarmouth district, Keith Dowding.