Sixth form students at Greenhead High School found themselves on the wrong side of the law recently.

But their criminal deeds and misdemeanours were all committed for a good reason.

A group of 22 upper and lower sixth form students acted out a number of different crime scenarios to prepare trainee police officers for when it happens for real.

And the students - the first from Keighley to take part in the training exercise - were thanked by youth services officer PC Dean Taylor.

He presented the group with certificates for the part they played in the successful training day that was held at the North East Region Police Training Centre in Durham.

PC Taylor said: "The centre is where we send West Yorkshire PCs and new recruits to do a 16-week course.

"Part of the training involves including members of the community as voluntary role models in different scenarios. The students from Greenhead went up as part of the community days and acted out roles such as being a thief, someone involved in public disorder and a driver who had been drinking.

"They were given a script to read and had to do the role over and over again and be convincing for the training to be successful.

"After they had done the training they gave feedback to the PCs as well, which they found very interesting and helpful.

"It was very demanding, but all of the students entered into it brilliantly and gave it 100 per cent."

PC Taylor says the police linked up with Greenhead to raise students' awareness and provide an overview of police work.

Following the success of the scheme PC Taylor and his colleague PC Glyn Butterworth hope to do the same thing in the future with other schools in the Keighley area.