A campaign to restore the confidence of ethnic minority groups in the courts is being planned for Bradford.

The "magistrate shadowing project" will give people from ethnic groups the chance to see how the legal system works at first hand.

It also aims to raise the number of people from ethnic minorities becoming magistrates.

Only 4.5 per cent of all Britain's magistrates come from ethnic minorites, who now represent seven per cent of the population as a whole.

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, said the project was particularly important in riot-hit areas.

He said: "Anything of a positive kind that causes people from the ethnic minority communities to believe that they are valued and to contribute to the democratic process must be for the greater good."

A pilot scheme will begin in Bristol and Birmingham and be introduced in Bradford, Oldham and other areas during the autumn.

Volunteers will spend a minimum of ten days sitting with magistrates. Their work will also include a spell in court offices to see how cases are prepared.

"These participants will then go out into their communities as ambassadors to tell the community how the system really works," Lord Irvine said.

At least half of those chosen would be women and the aim was to achieve a mix from African, Asian, Caribbean, Chinese and other ethnic minority communities. The Operation Black Vote group will help select candidates.

Simon Wooley, from the project, said: "When people see themselves and their community making decisions at all levels they will believe that greater justice is being served.

"It is not surprising that in areas where representation is low many black Britons feel alienated and frustrated. This is a long-term project but as we see successes we will see a decision-making process that reflects the people it serves."

Bary Malik, a Bradford Magistrate and member of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee, said: "I feel that this is a good scheme and I am particularly pleased that Bradford is among the few areas chosen to launch it.

"I think it will encourage more people from ethnic minorities to join the Bench."

More than 95 per cent of criminal cases in England and Wales are dealt with entirely by magistrates' courts.