PILES of paperwork brought York Magistrates Court to a standstill in solicitors' latest protest against legal aid reforms.

The lawyers refused to represent their clients in court until they had confirmation that they would be paid for their work.

But the multi-paged forms containing their applications for legal aid were stuck in a log-jam of red-tape.

As a 66-year-old husband with no previous convictions and a woman with severe psychiatric problems languished in court cells, and parents worried about whether their child-care arrangements would run out of time while they waited in the court corridor, magistrates had to rise for an hour because no cases were ready.

By lunchtime, only 11 cases had been heard out of 30. Some defendants were sentenced without a lawyer to put their case. "We have got to breaking point," said defence solicitor Sandra Keen who warned that more court time would be wasted under the new legal aid provisions brought in last October.

Fellow defence solicitor Jackie Knights told the magistrates: "Solicitors are unable to do their jobs properly because of the administrative burden."

Both prisoners were released as soon as their cases were heard - after hours in custody. Magistrates heard 66-year-old Peter Swaine's case without a solicitor so they could release him.

The decision by local criminal defence lawyers is the latest protest by solicitors about the effects of the changes in legal aid brought in last October. Last month, they went on strike for a day. They fear they will restrict access to justice. Since the reforms started last October, scores of cases have been adjourned at their first hearing for legal aid to be sorted out. Peter Nelson, regional director of the Legal Services Commission, said the reforms focussed legal aid on the people who needed it most and would save the taxpayer £35 million a year.

He said that York Magistrates Court processed 87 per cent of legal aid application within a day and 94 per cent within two days.

"We are disappointed to learn that so many hearings were adjourned when the early cover scheme would have provided a payment for the solicitor to represent their client at that first hearing without knowing the outcome of the means test," he said.

The means test decides whether people with income between £12,000 and £21,000 should get legal aid and takes into account number of children and other factors. The early cover scheme has been criticised by local solicitors.