Bradford's newest magistrates have been officially sworn in and are eager to start serving the local community.

In total 18 new magistrates were added to the official list of Justices who serve on the court bench and they include a former Telegraph & Argus journalist, a lorry driver, a marathon runner and a paramedic.

Olwen Vasey, who worked as City Hall reporter for the T&A for ten years, was among those being sworn in.

She said she was very excited to be taking up the post and looking forward to sitting behind the bench in the next few weeks.

She said: "I sat in court at the age of 18 and watched magistrates and thought what an important job it was and how much it meant for society. I am looking forward to it tremendously."

All the trainee magistrates have undergone extensive training by observing magistrates at work and studying in depth how the law works.

Christopher Frost, 41, of Eccleshill, a lorry driver, said that the training and support that they all received had been top rate.

He said: "I decided to become a magistrate mainly to keep in touch with the local community and serve and support the local community. I'm looking forward to be doing my first sitting on the bench.

"It is a big responsibility to be the representative of the people of Bradford, to ensure that the laws are upheld - I am very proud to have been given this opportunity."

The magistrates will be trainees for one year during which time they will be supported by an experienced magistrate who will act as a mentor and offer guidance as they gain more expertise and experience.

College lecturer Hayley Lomas, 31, of Bierley, said that she had decided to become a magistrate to give something back to the local community.

Miss Lomas, who also volunteers for the Prince's Trust and runs marathons for charity, said: "I do a lot of things professionally for my career. I just wanted to give a little back."

e-mail: sunita.bhatti@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

NEW FACES

The full list of new magistrates is: Edward Clarke, Shelley Clarkson, Paul Colley, Denise Craven, Christopher Frost, Martin Johnson, Graham Laycock, Charlotte Lindsay, Hayley Lomas, Helen Miller, Saeed Mohammed, John Pargeter, Rona Pickles, Suzanne Reynolds, John Robinson, Esther Shields, Nicola Swan and Olwen Vasey.