THE latest intake of magistrates to serve the courts of County Durham and Darlington have been inaugurated in office.

Twenty newly-appointed Justices of the Peace were sworn in at a ceremony, at Durham Crown Court on Tuesday.

Nine men and 11 women took the judicial oath and the oath of allegiance to qualify as magistrates to serve on the North and South Durham benches, at six court centres round the county.

Judge Richard Lowden, in his capacity as the Honorary Judicial Recorder of Durham, presided over the ceremony, along with the county's Lord Lieutenant, Sir Paul Nicholson, in his role as chairman of the advisory committee for Durham on Justices of the Peace.

They told the new magistrates to make the most of their forthcoming roles and to be confident that they are taking to a post which has stood the test of time.

The new magistrates are: Robert Bridgett, Shildon; Linda Clark, Stanley; Colin Frank Stanley Davison, Weardale; Andrew John Dixon, Bishop Auckland; Anthony Nicholas Edger, Darlington, Marjory Frances Gilliespie Elliott, Durham; David Edward Fryer, Bishop Auckland; Gail Anne Ellinor Gallagher, Chester-le-Street; Anthony Edward Geraghty, Darlington; Kenneth Ronald Kell, Crook; Peter Whiteley Lisle, Lanchester; Brenda Lodge-Metcalfe, School Aycliffe; Wendy Plunkett, Stockton; Jill Richardson, Bishop Auckland; Alison Rickaby, Durham City; Mary Anita Savory, Wolsingham; Mavis Sherwood, Durham; Patricia Taylor, Stockton; Shirley Ann Wilson, School Aycliffe; Diane Gillian Wright, Newton Aycliffe.