A shivering judge refused to sit in his own courtroom in Liverpool yesterday because it was too cold.
After a morning dealing with a number of cases Judge John Phipps announced that he would not be returning to the courtroom after lunch.
A number of phone calls by the court clerk to maintenance staff at Liverpool Crown Court to get the temperature raised had failed to make any discernable difference.
The judge's remarks were greeted with delight by his equally cold court staff and lawyers who had endured the icy chill.
After lunch a noticeably warmer courtroom was found and he carried on with proceedings.
A court spokesman said that the heating was adjusted over the lunchtime break but by that time Judge Phipps had found a warmer court.