Some of Keighley's key representatives will take part in two mock trials in June - to learn more about how the magistrates' Court works.

The Keighley bench has organised the event as part of a programme of activities to raise the profile of the lay magistracy.

Running the evenings will be the bench's Magistrates in the Community group, which is made up of colleagues who visit schools, run mock courts and provide speakers for organisations.

The evening is aimed at people who are not connected with the criminal justice system, to give them an insight into the role of the magistracy in the community by participating in a mock court and sentencing exercise.

Invited Keighley members include Ann Cryer MP, Neighbourhood Watch, Keigh-ley Lions, Keighley Business Forum and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Magistrates are ordinary people drawn from all walks of life and who are not legally qualified. There are 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales who deal with 97 percent of all criminal cases.

The events will be held on Tuesday, June 23, at Keighley Magistrates's Court, The Sessions House, North Street, Keighley, from 7.30-9.30pm and on Thursday June 25 at Bingley Magistrates' Court, The Court House, Bradford Road, Bingley, from 7.30-9.30pm.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.