A fatal accident inquiry into Britain's first anthrax case in more than 30 years will be held in November, it has been confirmed.

Christopher "Pascal" Norris probably died after inhaling the deadly spores from playing or handling imported West African bongo drums at a village hall in the Borders.

A 17-month investigation by NHS Borders, which cost almost £500,000, has already been held into the circumstances surrounding the 50-year-old's death in July 2006.

However, there have been criticisms on how the investigation was handled and the legal inquiry has been welcomed.

A sheriff will make a determination on the cause of the death, any precautions which could have been taken to avoid it and any defects in the system which contributed to the death.

The inquiry will be held at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on November 18 with a preliminary hearing held on July 24.

Christine Grahame, the South of Scotland MSP, said: "This is a very important case and was frequently referred to in the legislative process of the Public Health Bill which has now been passed. The huge problem in the case of Mr Norris was no one knew who was in charge and as a result the investigation rumbled on for such a long time.

"But with the passing of this bill we now know who will ultimately be in charge of the process, as the legislation says it will be down to the local authority.

"Lessons have been learned, but I am absolutely delighted the inquiry is being held so we can establish exactly what happened in this case."

Although the death of Mr Norris took place at his home in the hamlet of Stobbs, near Hawick, Roxburghshire, the inquiry will be staged in Edinburgh due to space pressure at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

The case of anthrax inhalation was the first of its type recorded in the UK since 1904 and the first case of any type of anthrax in more than 30 years.