Judicial heads say they are concerned about the "slow recruitment" of black, Asian and ethnic minority judges in England and Wales.

Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice and most senior judge in England and Wales, said on Thursday that the percentage of black, Asian and ethnic minority judges had risen by 1% in the three years to April 2017.

He expressed concern as new "judicial diversity statistics" were released.

"In the period from April 1 2014 to April 1 2017 ... the percentage of black, Asian and minority ethnic judges has increased from 6% to 7%," said Lord Thomas.

"We remain very concerned about the slow recruitment of black, Asian and minority ethnic judges."

Statistics revealed a similar rise in the number of black, Asian and minority ethnic judges sitting in tribunals rather than courts.

Data showed that in the past four years the percentage of black, Asian and ethnic minority judges sitting in tribunals had risen from 9% to 10%.

Figures have been released on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website.

Black, Asian or minority ethnic minority representation was highest among judges under the age of 40 - 10% for courts and 14% for tribunals.

The London and Midlands regions had the highest representations - 9% for courts and 8% for tribunals.

In Wales 1% of judges were black, Asian or minority ethnic.

Statistics showed that 11% of magistrates declared themselves as black, Asian or minority ethnic.

Lord Thomas said the percentage of senior women judges had increased in the three years to April 2017 - from 18% to 24% in the Court of Appeal and from 18% to 22% in the High Court.

He said a Judicial Diversity Committee, chaired by Court of Appeal judge Lady Justice Hallett, had been formed in 2013.

"The committee ... has each year pursued more initiatives to explore what might be done to accelerate progress," he said.

"It has been strongly supported by judges from all backgrounds across the courts and tribunals in England and Wales.

"It has worked with the Judicial Appointments Commission, universities and professional bodies to host evening outreach events.

"The primary purpose of these events is to attract suitably qualified lawyers from groups currently under-represented in the judiciary and to enable them to explore the possibility of a future judicial career.

"The events provide a panel of varied speakers and an opportunity to meet serving judges. They may sow the seed of wanting to join the judiciary years ahead, when they are ready to apply.

"Since 2015, we have run increasingly popular application workshops aimed at under-represented groups.

"These form part of a positive action programme which is intended to help candidates make stronger applications; but once they have completed the programme, they are expected to compete on merit with the other applicants."

By Brian Farmer.