A JUDGE has criticised the Crown Prosecution Service over delays to the trial of a Cirencester man because it is failing to keep up with its caseload.

Judge Mark Horton said he found it distressing that the Gloucester office of the CPS used to be the most efficient in the region but had now fallen below the standard of others.

He made his comments while dealing with the case of Darren Edgington, 29, of Shepherds Way, Cirencester, who is awaiting trial on two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

A pre-trial hearing of Edgington's case on Monday followed straight on from another case where the judge had also criticised the failure of the CPS to get its paperwork up to date in time.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said he would like to make a 'public apology' for the failure.

"We have lost, unfortunately, one lawyer through ill health since Easter and two others have left after being seconded to the serious casework unit in Bristol," he said.

At the start of the hearing Edington had pleaded not guilty to wounding a man and a woman with intent to do them grievous bodily harm on August 17, 2008.