in 'legal' contest PUPILS at Sharples Secondary School have been awarded runners up at The Young Magistrates Mock Trial Competition.

Eleven children aged 13 to 14 performed the role of prosecutor, defendant, witnesses, magistrates, usher and clerk during the national competition, held at Wigan Magistrates.

The Year Nine pupils had to devise questions and research the roles, while discovering exactly what magistrates courts do. The children were runners up, being pipped to the post for first place by last years North Of England Champions from Bishop Rawstone School near Wigan. DON'T FORGET PICTURES CAN BE ORDERED AT THE BEN'S OFFICES IN CHURCHGATE