The Magistrates’ Association said there was a national shortage of legal advisers, particularly in the south of England.

Chief executive Tom Franklin said: “This results in many thousands of sitting days being canceled or delayed each year.

“Reducing the number of legal advisors through better recruitment and retention will cost some money, but for a relatively small amount it could have a big impact on resolving one of the logjams in the courts.”

The Law Society, which represents lawyers, said there was also a shortage of magistrates, barristers and prison escort staff.

Chairman Richard Atkinson said: “This is particularly unnecessary when the magistrates’ court backlog is already huge and growing, with 333,349 cases outstanding at the end of September.”

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight had 11,916 open cases – the highest number for five years – while Wiltshire had 2,350, according to the latest government figures, external.

The Crown Prosecution Service declined to comment on the backlog.

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice said: “To ensure that new solicitors can complete their essential training, there will be a temporary reduction in magistrates’ sessions in Hampshire next year.

“We will deploy additional resources during this period to help the courts ensure justice continues to be served.”

Earlier this month, the government announced a criminal justice review in the face of a record backlog in the crown courts, external.

He said the inquiry, led by former High Court judge Sir Brian Leveson, would examine whether magistrates should be given broad powers to ease the burden on the crown courts.