THE atmosphere in the most famous court in the country certainly did not intimidate a group of youngsters from the North.

The Number One Court at the Old Bailey, in London, has seen the likes of the Kray twins, the Yorkshire Ripper and countless other criminals get sentenced.

But for a team of 13 pupils from Stokesley School, in North Yorkshire, it became a scene of triumph when they put their judicial skills to the test.

Led by deputy headteacher Martin Trent, they took part in the Bar National Mock Trial Competition and beat off entrants from across the country to emerge as winners.

The competition, organised by the Citizenship Foundation, provides an opportunity for 15 to 18-year-old students to gain experience of the workings of the criminal justice system.

The schools attend court for a day and compete in three mock trials, prosecuting and defending in different rounds.

Not only is the Stokesley team the national winners, but team members Christopher Nelson and William Anderson won the Louise Godfrey QC Memorial Award for their outstanding advocacy.

North Yorkshire's executive member for education, Chris Metcalfe, said: "The competition is a marvellous opportunity for students to learn about the legal system and what it means to be a citizen."

Mr Trent guided the team throughout the trial. He said: "The competition takes the youngsters into situations they would not normally meet, rubbing shoulders with barristers and judges, thinking on their feet and coping with nerves.

"It also has a spin-off in general education about law -some of the material and some of the recommended books have been used in our general studies law course."