HIGH COURT judges sitting at Winchester Crown Court could be asked to use a hotel instead of their traditional lodging house as part of an on-going cost review.

A ministerial study into the use of the 32 regional lodgings is being carried out by judicial chief the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irving of Lairg. These properties can all be used free of charge by 98 High Court judges, at a combined cost of nearly £5 million to the public purse.

Many come with private chefs and chauffeur-driven cars to carry out the daily court run.

But with Winchester costing far less perweek than many others around the UK, such a move seems unlikely. Its lodging house is situated in The Close, next to the Cathedral.

Most recent figures available show that in 1998, its annual cost was £167,133, for around 45 weeks' use during the year at a weekly cost of £3,714, or £530.57 a day.

A standard double bedroom at Winchester's prestigious Hotel du Vin, in Southgate Street, would set the government back £95 per night, while a double room at the Heart in Hand, in Bar End Road, would cost £40 a night.

Other UK courts chalk up higher costs due to the smaller number of cases. For example, Northampton's total cost came to £47,024, but it was only used for about four weeks at a staggering weekly average of £11,758.

Lord Chancellor's Department spokesman, Peter Farr, said: "It is difficult to say at the moment which ones if any will be closed as the results are not yet known. But Winchester is a very busy court and its average costs are among the lowest in the country."