The inquests into the deaths of 96 victims of the Hills-borough disaster will have a jury, the coroner has ruled.

Lord Justice Goldring announced the decision at a pre-inquest hearing in London.

The judge said the inquests will begin by Monday, March 31, next year, and will take place in the north-west of England.

Britain's worst sporting disaster happened at Sheffield's Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989, during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest as thousands of fans were crushed on the ground's Leppings Lane terrace.

Lord Justice Goldring said he was exercising his dis-cretion in favour of a jury, although it was also his view it was mandatory to have one.

Christina Lambert, QC, lead counsel to the inquests, had told him a jury must be summoned, under the law, in a case where death occurred in police custody or where a police officer was executing his duty.

The judge also said Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights applies in the case. This imposes duties on the state, including the duty to protect lives.

And he agreed with Ms Lambert there should be a wide scope to the inquests.

She had explained this should include such matters as design of the stadium, preparation for the semi-final, planning by police and other organisations, movement and distribution of fans, overcrowding at the turnstiles and the police response, including the decision to open the gate.

She said they should also look at the issue of the survivability of the victims if other emergency care had been available.