Budding legal eagles will be presenting their cases on Monday as part of a pioneering, law in the community project.

Pupils at four schools across the Bradford district will act out the scene of a hit-and-run accident, from a script provided by Toller Lane police's schools liaison officer, PC Gordon Eddison, who devised the project.

They hope to win a place in the finals of the competition, during which they will act out a court case to an audience of police officers, magistrates and members of Bradford Education Authority.

PC Eddison said: "The aim is to help young people understand the potential consequences of getting on the wrong side of the law. We want to make them more aware of the law and how it deals with offenders."

In the run up to the heats, police officers have spoken to pupils about the legal system and how it works.

Magistrates have also become involved and are visiting schools to talk about their work and role in the community.

"Becoming involved in the scheme will also be great fun and enable youngsters to take legal scenarios and interpret them creatively in their own way."

Monday's heats are part of a pilot scheme across the five Bradford divisions - Central, Eccleshill, Keighley, Odsal and Toller Lane.

The finals will be held at City Hall on Thursday, May 21, when five teams will have written scripts about either a burglary or a violent incident on a bus.

Young people not taking part in the performance will act as court reporters.

The heats involve Toller Lane's Scotchman Middle School against Waverley Middle School, and Eccleshill's Hutton Middle School against Parklands Middle School. Parkside Middle School, Cullingworth, is also involved.

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