CASES due to take place at York Crown Court this week will now be heard in Leeds, following an arson attack on the building.

A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs, which is responsible for running the court service, said the fire damage was still being assessed, so it was not yet known how long the building would be out of action.

He said the court's contingency plan had been put into place, which meant hearings would be transferred to Leeds Crown Court until further notice.

"The court's staff are working with other agencies in the criminal justice system to make sure all the relevant parties are made aware what is happening," the spokesman said.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of arson a few hours after the fire broke out on Monday, and have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Firefighters fought for more than two hours to save the Grade I listed building at the Eye of York, after the entrance hall and reception area were deliberately set alight at about 2.40am.

Ten other rooms on the ground floor suffered 25 per cent smoke damage and a further ten on the first floor suffered 20 per cent smoke damage.

Updated: 10:17 Wednesday, January 05, 2005