A TRYING time is ahead for Blackpool Sixth Form College.

For the third time in the past six years, the college has won through to the national finals of the Bar National Mock Trial Competition.

The competition gives young people the opportunity to participate in a criminal mock trial inside a real court.

At the regional heat in Manchester, the team had to prosecute and defend two cases; one involving damage to a teacher's car and the other a building society robbery.

The 12-strong team comprised pupils acting as advocates, witnesses, court clerk, jurors and a legal reporter.

Actual circuit judges and recorders marked the teams on every aspect of their performance.

Stephen Perkins, the teacher co-ordinating the school's team, said: "We were given witness statements in advance and we had to act as both prosecutors and the defence in both cases against other opposition.

"This year we hope to prove even more successful than before in the finals."

The grand final of the competition will be held at Southwark Crown Court on March 28.

More than 150 teams entered the 16 regional heats in the competition, organised by the Citizenship Foundation - an independent educational charity which aims to help citizens become more effective through a better understanding of the law and society.

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