SCORES of Herefordshire youngsters were up in front of the courts last week... but not because they were in trouble!

Around 100 local students took part in the 2019 Mock Trials Competition in Hereford.

Pupils of high school teams took on the roles of defendant, witnesses, magistrates, lawyers and court staff in the annual competition, which is run in partnership by Young Citizens educational charity and the courts service HMCTS.

Students started preparing months in advance.

The day itself is organised by a team headed by magistrate Mrs Leigh Brazewell, who co-ordinates the competition with schools.

Each set of students had to research and build their own case, though all shared the same scenario - a moped-rider who’d snatched an iPhone X from the hand of a nurse making a call by the roadside.

The 12-14 year old pupils had to role play without any reliance on a script, and against teams they had not met before.

Local dignitaries attending the high profile student event included the Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Lady Darnely; Judge Pearce-Higgins; High Sheriff Mr Nat Hone ; Herefordshire Council chairman Brian Wilcox; Mayor of Hereford Sue Boulter; Hereford Wye Valley Rotary President John Barnes; and Dick Makin, Wye Valley Rotary Youth Opportunities Officer.

A presentation ceremony afterwards was led by Mr Paul Deneen, JP.

The winners, who now go through to the regional finals in Newport, Gwent, were Wigmore High School, who were also awarded the ‘Team Spirit’ shield for working exceptionally well together as players.

Narrowly missing top spot were runners up Fairfield Academy from Peterchurch.

Other teams competing were St Mary’s RC High School, Aylestone High School, Bishop’s High School, and Whitecross Academy.

There were also individual awards for outstanding achievements over the course of the competition.

The mock trails are in their 25th year annually, with 4,000 pupils from more than 300 schools taking part.