THE country's newest youth court will open its doors in Bradford tomorrow as part of a multi-million redevelopment.

Bradford and Keighley Youth Court, which will hold hearings for youngsters aged 11 to 18, will reopen after a refurbishment.

"It is the most modern of the youth courts in the country, in terms of facility," said the chairman of the Bradford and Keighley Youth Panel, Martin Nolan.

The youth court, which sits on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, has two video screens to show evidence footage and statements from witnesses who do not want to appear in court.

It also has new computers which will hold information on cases and witnesses, meaning representatives do not need to have paper case loads in court.

"Instead of having reams and reams of paper, we have computers which will have information on defendants. It will be on screens in the courtroom and it can't be seen outside of the room," Mr Nolan said.

Improvements to the Youth Court were part of a wider project to build a new custody suite at the back of Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court building, which fronts on to City Park.

Work started in August and the new custody suite will also open tomorrow.

The whole project costs £4.5million, with £2.2m from the Homes and Communities Agency and £2.3m secured by Bradford Council from the Government's Regional Growth Fund.

No specific figure for how much the Youth Court work cost was available when the Telegraph & Argus asked.

The new-look courtroom was officially opened by Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC on Tuesday, but takes its first cases from this week.

Judge Thomas, who first worked as an advocate at Bradford Youth Court in 1976, said: "This is a splendid facility. If youths can be deflected early from further crime then they won't have to go before me in Bradford Crown Court.

"There are two competing philosophies. Youths should get a short, sharp shock by being in youth court. Not to criminalise youths is the modern approach.

"It is an accommodating setting, as we don't want youths that are frightened to death, but it still feels like a courtroom should."

Mr Nolan added: "It is much more about engagement and finding out about the background of the children and we now have the reoffending rate below 30 per cent."