The attorney general Lord Goldsmith has ordered an investigation into the collapse of the longest British jury trial in legal history.

After almost two years, the trial of businessmen and London Underground executives on fraud charges relating to the Jubilee Line extension ended in failure as a juror went on strike.

Goldsmith has asked the Crown Prosecution's chief inspector to investigate the trial which saw numerous jurors and lawyers going on sick and paternity leave.

The collapse of the trial, which cost £16m in legal fees alone, has increased calls for the end of jury trials in long fraud cases.