An appeal has been launched for people to act as mock jurors for law students to get a taste of life in a criminal trial.

Researchers at Lancaster University Law School are on the hunt for people to help them with a study on how justice is administered in England and Wales.

Volunteers are needed for several mock criminal jury trials happening this month in the university's replica courtroom.

The dates when help is needed are Sunday, November 24, Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1.

The study will see volunteers acting as jurors in a simulated live criminal trial based on a case involving sexual offences.

Evidence will be presented by real prosecution and defence barristers, witnesses will testify, and a real judge will preside over the case.

After hearing all the evidence, the mock jurors will deliberate with others and decide as a group whether they find the defendant guilty or not guilty.

The discussions will be recorded and analysed by the researchers.

Dr Siobhan Weare, from Lancaster University Law School, and the project leader, said: "As it currently stands, it is against the law for jurors to discuss what happened in the jury deliberation room.

"Therefore, it is often difficult to understand why jurors make the decisions that they do when we only get to hear their final verdict in a case.

"By conducting this research, we hope to develop a greater understanding of the decisions that people make when they are acting as jurors in sexual offences cases."

Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and participants will receive a gift voucher.