The Supreme Court in China has issued new regulations concerning judges' behaviour, in an attempt to reduce corruption.

In one of the main changes, judges who revert to working as lawyers will not be allowed to appear in their old courtrooms.

Nor will relatives of judges be allowed to argue cases before them.

The judges themselves will no longer be allowed to meet litigants in private, attend parties hosted by them, or borrow money from anyone involved in a case they are hearing.

A spokesman for the Chinese Supreme Court said the new regulations would be another major step in boosting the image of the courts, and preventing the few judges who abuse their power for financial gain.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service