A leading judge has called for changes to be made in the way Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAIs) are conducted.

FAIs are public inquiries into fatal accidents, which are carried out in cases of suspicious or unexplained death.

Lord Cullen suggested that such inquiries should be made less formal and lawyers involved in the cases should no longer wear wigs and gowns.

The former lord president also said that FAIs should not be held in court anymore.

In his report related to Scotland, he stated: "My aim has been to set out practical measures for a system for inquiry into fatalities that is effective, efficient and fair."

His review into FAIs began in June 2008 and his findings also included the suggestion that a dedicated FAI team is set up.

Earlier this week, an inquiry in Scotland found that Paul Campbell, 25, of Eastriggs, had died in a quad bike accident due to the failure of a suspension unit on his vehicle, reports BBC News.