SAMANTHA Marsh has been named as Somerset's new senior coroner following the retirement of Tony Williams in March. 

Somerset County Council (SCC) announced her appointment in December. Mrs Marsh started in her new role on Thursday, December 1.

She had been in post as acting senior coroner for Somerset since Mr Williams retired earlier this year.

Mrs Marsh has been a coroner since 2016. She was previously a residential property solicitor.

The appointment was made following an open competition and after receiving the consent of the chief coroner, Judge Thomas Teague, and the lord chancellor, Dominic Raab.

Coroners are judicial office holders who are independently appointed and are responsible for investigating deaths to find out how, when and where they occurred.

Coroners will investigate a death if it was unnatural or suspicious, if the cause of death is unknown or if the person died in any form of state detention, such as a prison or police custody.

They do not seek to apportion criminal blame or civil liability.

The Somerset Coroner's Services are based at the Old Municipal Buildings in Corporation Street, Taunton, where inquests are held. Jury inquests are held at Wells Town Hall.