HUNDREDS of school children will appear in court next week.

Reading Crown Court will host more than 400 children as they take part in the annual Mock Trial competition.

Pupils from state schools across Berkshire will appear at the court on Saturday, March 11 and March 18, to take part in a mock trial.

They will take on the roles of everything from lawyers, and judge to defendant and legal adviser as they compete to win the High Sheriff’s Berkshire Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition.

Julia Hardy JP, co-ordinator of the competition, said: "Each school has entered a team of 12-14 year olds who take on the roles of magistrates, lawyers, victim, defendant, usher, witnesses and Legal Adviser.

"They compete against other school teams to secure a conviction or persuade the magistrates that their defendant is not guilty.

"All this is watched from the public gallery by the High Sheriff of Berkshire as well as family and friends, mayors, judges, former and future High Sheriff’s, Thames Valley Police."

Across three heats a total of six teams will go on to a regional final as one team is selected to compete in the National Final in June.