MORE than £50,000 was spent on translators across two courts of law in Taunton over the last two years. 

In total, £55,883.23 was spent on interpreters in Taunton Crown Court and magistrates' court from May 2015 until June 2017. 

Providing the service is a legal requirement for the courts, regardless of what language is spoken.

In the 2015-16 financial year, £7,934.19 was spent at Taunton Crown Court, and £16,400.14 in the magistrates' court. 

During the 2016-17 financial year, £8,649.67 was spent in crown court, and £14, 365.04 was spent at magistrates' court providing the interpreters. 

Up until June this financial year, £2,344.19 has been spent at Taunton's crown court, and £6,193 in the magistrates' court. 

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We are legally obliged to provide language services and have replaced the old system with a more efficient and cost-effective service. This has saved the taxpayer £48 million since 2011.

"Regardless of the language required, HMCTS has a legal obligation to provide language services to defendants in all criminal cases and immigration and asylum tribunals and some mental health tribunals, or at direction by the judiciary, to ensure the provision of an effective and efficient court system.

"Historically, the previous system where interpreters were booked by individual courts was costly and inefficient. Since we replaced this system in 2011 complaints are low and we have saved taxpayer money."

Until October 2016, the service was provided by Capita TI, and the current suppliers are thebigword and Clarion.