A NEW Honorary Recorder of Burnley has been installed and she is truly "at home" with her title.

For Judge Barbara Watson was born in the town, raised in the area and sat at Burnley Crown Court on her very first day as a judge almost four years ago.

The judge, 54, is delighted to be based in the town she knows so well and with which her family has been connected for more than 160 years. Her father served in a regiment known as the Burnley Boys in wartime.

Judge Watson became the 12th Recorder, the fourth Honorary Recorder and the second woman to hold the position, in a ceremony at a meeting of the council at Burnley Town Hall.

She is now looking forward to her new civic responsibilities and attended her first function as Honorary Recorder, the Mayor's Ball, on Friday night.

The judge, who succeeds Judge Raymond Bennett after his retirement in July, spent her childhood in Brierfield and Barrowford. She was educated at Nelson Grammar School and Southampton University before reading for the Bar at Grays Inn in London.

Judge Watson then came to Manchester to complete her training, being called to the Bar in July 1973. After two years she married and left the Bar and between 1975 and 1981 she taught at Manchester University.

In 1981, when her son James, who is now 27, started school she returned to the Bar.

Then in 1983 she left her chambers in Manchester and was one of five barristers who set up the now well-known Winckley Square Chambers in Preston.

Judge Watson was made an Assistant Recorder - a part-time judge - in September 1992, a Recorder five years later and was appointed a Circuit Judge in December 2000. A month later she sat for the first time at Burnley and now also sits on family hearings at Blackburn County Court.

The judge, who lives in East Lancashire, is hoping to carry on the work started by her predecessor at Burnley. She said:" I would like to continue very much as Judge Bennett did it. I would really like people to think Burnley is a court where they can expect to be listened to courteously and where they will receive fairness.

"That was very much the attitude he had and it includes everybody - witnesses, members of the profession and those who are tried here."

Judge Watson considers herself privileged to have a career in which no two days are the same.

She continued: "This is a very fascinating job. It is demanding and of course we are in the midst of great changes in the criminal justice system as well."

Outside court the judge is interested in local history, loves gardening and is a passionate rugby union fan and keen opera goer.