THE latest recruits to magistrates benches across Lancashire are set to be sworn in.

The office of Magistrate -also known as Justice of the Peace - has existed in England and Wales for hundreds of years.

People holding the office perform an essential service by dispensing justice within the criminal justice system and hearing a range of non-criminal cases.

Successful candidates for 2008 were aged between 20-64 and came from all sectors of the community.

The new magistrates will receive their core training during January, February and March and should be in a position to commence their first sittings during April 2009.

The new magistrates are:

Blackburn with Darwen and Ribble Valley
Patricia Crowther, Karen Dowber, Marilyn Hall, Linda Maudsley, Helen McCabe, William McGarrie, Mertha Nyamande, Graham Wilkinson.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale
Robert Alexander, Mary Bourke, Jean Farrer, Rev Christopher Free, Ian Graham, Jacqueline Griffin, Karen Lynch, Linda McGregor, Simon Morley, Joanna Rubery, Julie Singh, Jennifer Sutcliffe, Jon Tomblin, Anne Winkley.

Chorley
Stanley Daryl Collinson, Dr Ashley-Christopher Fallon, Elizabeth Paterson, Janice Scanlon, Linda Smalley.

Fylde
Timothy Armit, Sharon Asquith, Neil Atkinson, Gary Bell, Thomas Farquhar, Kathleen Hatton, Lillian Mugonyi, Brian Nicholson, Anne Louise Parkinson, Susan Sharples, David Short, Bernard Smith, Stephen Smith, Graham Turner.

Hyndburn
Naida Farooq, Linda Fletcher.

Lancaster
Derrick Barlow, Kim Graveson, Pippa Hartley, Annette McGee, Sandra Murray.

Ormskirk
Mary Bevan, Fiona Duggan, Dr Jill Wakefield, Martyn Walmsley.

Preston
Nadine Bartlett, Fionuala Bohannon, David Brand, Patricia Driscoll, Carol Gaynor, Philippa Hamilton, Robert Johnsopn, Kathryn Jones, Deborah Porter, Peter Ryder, Pauline Whyman.

South Ribble
Rachel Clarke, Lynne Compton, Elizabeth Eccles, Nicola Marek, Nicholas Rowe.

Anyone wishing to apply to become a magistrate for the 2009 recruitment campaign still has an opportunity to get their applications in. The closing date for receipt of applications is November 28 2008.

Applications received after this date will be put forward for the 2010 campaign.

More information about becoming a Magistrate can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/magistrates or by contacting Lancashire Advisory Committee on 01772 272820.