SCOTS families are facing waits of up to four years for fatal accident inquiries (FAIs) into their relatives’ deaths to be concluded, figures show.

The average number of days for an FAI to be undertaken and concluded in 2016/17 was 406 days, however data covering the past eight years puts the longest wait at 1,586 days in 2012/13.

The Lib Dems. who obtained the figures, raised concerns over “unreasonable” delays in the process following an appeal to the Lord Advocate to initiate an FAI into the deaths of M9 crash victims Lamara Bell and John Yuill in 2015.

The couple lay undiscovered in their car for three days following the accident on the motorway, despite the incident being reported to Police Scotland at the time.

The party has also previously sought assurances that deaths in prison - which are subject to FAIs - are being properly investigated.

Lib Dem justice spokesman Liam McArthur said: “While I understand the complexity of these investigations, in many cases families across Scotland have faced unreasonable delays in their search for answers about the fates of their loved ones.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Investigations of deaths and decisions on fatal accident inquiries are matters for the Lord Advocate acting independently.”

The Crown Office, which is headed by the Lord Advocate, said it aims to hold FAIs “as soon as practicable”.