EAST Lancashire Coroner David Smith has conducted his last inquest after 22 years in the job.

During that time the local solicitor has conducted thousands on inquests ranging from cases of death from industrial diseases, suicides, road accidents and murders.

At the end of his last hearing in Burnley yesterday Mr Smith who retires at the end of the week said he wanted to express his thanks to so many people who had helped him over 22 years.

He was grateful to the police investigators. Although he had sometimes been critical of police communications, he had no complaint of their investigation into deaths and especially into road traffic accidents.

They were very dedicated and their investigations were very thorough.

The coroner's service also depended very much on the coroner's officer, at present PC Bob Wilson.

He was the person most people came into contact with and he had found they had always been very helpful to everyone and especially to the families of the bereaved.

Mr Smith ended by thanking members of the press and said: "I would like to thank them for the way they have very professionally done their work."

Mr Smith will be having a farewell buffet lunch at St Peter's Church, Burnley, tomorrow.