Channel 4 is looking for people from Southampton to bring their civil disputes to a new alternative court.

The court is part of a new series called 'The Court' (working title), which is set to air on Channel 4.

The series will provide a "swift, fair, and legally-binding" alternative to the traditional court process, which can have waiting times of up to 18 months.

It will be set in a former courthouse and will follow the stories of people from across the UK who have chosen to fast-track their cases through the televised alternative court.

Each side's case will be prepared by an independent solicitor before two expert barristers go head-to-head on behalf of the opposing parties.

After each hearing, an independent arbitrator will deliver a legally-binding award.

Sacha Mirzoeff, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: "The Court (WT) offers the drama of unfolding real-life disputes in a legally-binding framework.

"It also provides a fast track alternative to help solve the ongoing crisis in the wider civil court system.

"Channel 4 always looks to reflect the lives of people in the UK and to shine a light on social issues that need attention by creating bold new formats.

"We are excited by the prospect of this innovative territory and feel Wall to Wall are so well suited to creating a new series that has both entertainment and duty of care at its heart."

Emily Smith, creative director at Wall to Wall Media, said: "We have received overwhelming support from legal advocates dealing with the currently over-burdened and complex UK civil court system, and have developed this series in close consultation with them.

"We’re delighted to be able to offer a genuine alternative that could inform the future of civil disputes, while giving people the opportunity to have their cases heard fairly and swiftly."

The series will cover a range of disputes, including pet custody battles, contested inheritances, online defamation, and neighbourly conflicts.

It aims to shed light on the crisis in the UK's civil justice system while providing a new, accessible route to resolution and a national platform for people whose voices too often go unheard.