THE work of students that helped quash a North-East man's wrongful conviction was recognised this week.

Trainee lawyers at the Student Law Office at Northumbria University, in Newcastle, made national headlines when they successfully campaigned to free a man jailed for robbery, after fighting to have his conviction quashed.

Alex Allan, 42, from Newcastle, won his appeal two years ago, after eight years in prison.

Last month, students Terry Cape, 22, from Sunderland, and John Morgan, 25, from Darlington, also won an agreement from the Home Office to pay out tens of thousands of pounds in compensation to Mr Allan.

Baroness Scotland, Parliamentary Secretary to the Lord Chancellor, whose responsibilities include the Community Legal Service (CLS), opened the university's new offices yesterday.

She said: "The Student Law Centre provides an important service to the local community by offering free legal services."

The centre, now in its tenth year, lets fourth-year students work on real cases as part of their legal training on the University's Exempting Law Degree.

The service was recently awarded two specialist quality marks by the CLS for its work in employment and housing law.

The office has moved to larger premises in the Sutherland Building, in Northumberland Road, to meet growing demand.

Baroness Scotland also stopped off in Teesside, to meet Middlesbrough's mayor, Ray Mallon.

She visited three CLS projects that offer advice to young people, the elderly and those with mental health problems.

To seek help from the Student Law Office, call 0191-227 3909.