There was order in the Court as students from Greenhead High School took part in a mock magistrates' trial competition and cross-examined their way to second place.

The group of 12 year nine pupils took on the different roles of magistrates, lawyers and court officials to battle their way against six other Bradford schools to claim runners up spot.

Real magistrates judged the first round of the competition, which was held at Bradford Crown Court, and the team took part in two court sessions, acting first as prosecution and then defence.

The team was awarded a shield and prize money, which it is hoped to spend on Go-karting and one member, Maivish Ashfaq, received a certificate for being the best legal advisor.

Jenny Warner, achievement leader for year nine and a citizenship teacher at the Utley school, said: "The kids had a wonderful day. They were on a real high.

"The defence and the prosecution were just brilliant -- I wouldn't have wanted to be cross-examined by them.

"It was an invaluable experience and they got to learn all about the legal system, the roles of the people who work in court and meet real life magistrates."

The team practised hard in the weeks before the trial took place and a local magistrate, Phillip Hunter, helped to coach the group, supported by Mrs Warner and Miss Irene Docherty, who had taken part in the competition last year.

They even visited Bingley Magisrates Court to practise there.

One student from the group, Katie King, who acted as a lawyer for the prosecution, now wants to be a solicitor and on the day the group all worked together to put forward their case effectively.

The mock magistrates' trial competition offers students a hands-on experience of the legal system and is run nationwide.