The court where suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst stood in the dock on terrorism charges and where the inquest on Emily Davison was held is to be demolished.

Epsom Magistrates' Court, which was built in Edwardian times, and the neighbouring 1930s Epsom County Court are being sold off in a bidding war between developers for a sum expected to reach more than £5million.

The sale is expected to be completed by Christmas and the winner will demolish both buildings and probably replace them with high density homes.

The court in Ashley Road has seen many historic trials and hearings, including the inquest into the death of suffragette Emily Davison who threw herself under the King's Horse at the Derby in 1913.

Emmeline Pankhurst took personal responsibility for every action taken by the suffragettes, which is why she stood in the dock in Epsom after a local house was wrecked in the name of the cause.

A new county court is to open in East Street in the new year and will provide modern up to date facilities including two court rooms and two civil hearing rooms and easy access and facilities for disabled people.

Security will be improved with airport style scanners installed.

The magistrates' court is rarely used, apart from occasional inquests or lengthy cases that do not require secure conditions .

But in recent years Her Majesty's Court Service has been marketing it as a film set and advertises it as an ideal location for film and television companies who need a court that can double as a crown court or a magistrates court.

Almost all criminal cases from the area are now sent to the South East Surrey Magistrates' Court in Redhill.