THE inquest into the hanging of a York woman more than four years ago has hit yet another delay.

Following lengthy discussions with lawyers, York Coroner Donald Coverdale yesterday adjourned Hannah Longhorn's inquest until next Wednesday.

He said that after hearing evidence in the morning, it was now clear he needed to call at least one more witness - a police officer - who he had not anticipated needing, and who was not available at short notice.

He discharged one of the nine jurors, whom he said would have personal difficulties in returning next week.

It had originally been hoped the inquest might finish by this afternoon.

Hannah, 28, was found hanging at her home in Wenham Road, Foxwood, in February 2000. Delays in bringing the matter to a full inquest have previously been criticised as "disgraceful" by her family.

Yesterday morning, a police officer told the inquest why it had taken him more than 80 minutes to get to Hannah's home, after she had called police threatening to kill herself and giving them three minutes to respond.

PC Colin Sutherland said he became involved in three other incidents during a very busy night in York before he could get to the house.

After initially being sent there, he and a colleague had been going along Hamilton Drive when they had seen a group of youths running away from a shop. At the same time, a member of the public had made an emergency call to the police about a disturbance at that location.

He told police control he would deal with the incident as he was there and suggested to control that somebody else could go to Hannah's house. "I cannot remember if we had an answer," he said.

He said two youths were apprehended who were aged only 12 and 13 and it was necessary to take them home to their parents.

On the way across the city, a call for assistance came in from officers who were being set upon by revellers near a nightclub and he and his colleague, who happened to be only a short distance away from the club at that time, went to assist.

Shortly after, other units arrived and they then returned the youths to their homes.

As they were again heading to Hannah's house, a call came in about a motorist driving on the wrong side of the A64 dual carriageway near Copmanthorpe. They were closest to the scene and went to the location, but could not see the motorist.

When he finally got to the house, he found Hannah hanging from a banister in the hallway. There was no pulse and she was very cold, having been dead for some time.

PC Sutherland said the incident happened on a particularly busy night, with numerous incidents of sporadic violence across the city, and when he had got the impression that the police were short staffed.

Updated: 10:15 Friday, May 28, 2004