'INTOLERABLE' heat made worse by broken air conditioning has forced Oxford Crown Court to postpone hearings.

For several weeks the courtrooms have been sweltering, with fans plugged in to keep jury panels cool until the air conditioning system is fixed.

Some judges have been sitting without their trademark wigs on, and have been allowing barristers to do the same, in a bid to stay cool. 

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The heat has escalated with high temperatures today, however, and two courtrooms are currently not sitting due to the conditions.

Addressing a trial this morning, which is continuing to sit, Judge Ian Pringle told jurors: "You will see we all have no wigs on and have a fan as yet again, the air conditioning system fails to be fixed in this court centre.

"You may also be aware two courtrooms are not sitting today.

“It is intolerable to ask a jury, counsel and court staff to sit when it’s so uncomfortable.

"We are told temperatures are set to rise to 33C and the system won’t be fixed [tomorrow]."

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On Friday, the Oxford Mail heard barristers being told that the air conditioning was in the process of being fixed, after an engineer failed to turn up earlier in the week.

However, it would seem from this morning's disruption that the issue has still not been fixed.