More than a dozen people have tested positive for Covid 19 in an apparent outbreak at Oxford Crown Court.

It is understood that some court users were made aware of the positive tests on Monday before a further e-mail was sent confirming the rise in cases on Wednesday.

It comes after at least one trial - an alleged case of death by careless driving - was delayed last week due to a lack of court staff.

Responding to the apparent outbreak a HM Courts and Tribunals Service spokesperson said: “Public safety is our priority.

READ AGAIN: Trial into alleged death crash delayed due to 'lack of court staff'.

"Oxford Combined Court has taken all necessary precautions in line with public health guidelines after positive cases of the virus were identified.

“All areas visited by those who are now isolating underwent specialist cleaning and the court continues to operate as normal.”

The service went on to say that there had been no breaches of the court’s coronavirus safety measures and that the court continues to operate as normal.

It also said that the current measures satisfied public health guidelines and that affected court staff and court users had been informed.

It is understood that the majority of cases involved office staff but HMCTS did not confirm which areas of the building had been most affected.

Last week Arif Hussain, 35, of London Road, Camberley, appeared at court for the first day of his trial.

That case was adjourned until May of next year due to a lack of court staff.

The long-running trial into a murder in Didcot was also hit by delays in recent months as a result of coronavirus, when a barrister tested positive for the disease.

While the court centre remains open to the public visitors are asked to wear masks in all public areas and obey social distancing.