Reporters from The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) attended possession courts on 110 occasions over the summer. They revealed in a report that judges refused them entry six times, claiming – incorrectly – that the hearings were private.

On a further two occasions, reporters were initially denied entry, once by a judge and once by staff.

A Judicial Office spokesperson said: “The Master of the Rolls has written, following the TBIJ report, to all civil judges emphasising that the public and press must be able freely to access all public court hearings.”

A spokesperson for HM Courts & Tribunals Service said: “We are committed to the principle of open justice and transparency. Where operational issues are brought to our attention, we work swiftly to resolve them.”