A TEAM of students from an Isleworth girls school has been judged to be pretty clever, by coming first in the borough's heats for the 2004 National Mock Trial Competition held this week at Feltham Magistrates' Court.

The team, from Gumley House Convent School, will now go forward to the regional finals in June.

Sherika Ranasinghe, who was a witness in the trial and a member of the winning team, said: "When I walked up to the stand I was really shaking but once I started to answer the questions I felt at home and gained confidence. It was a great experience - I'd do it again."

Teams from Brentford School for Girls, Feltham Community College, Gumley House Convent School and Heathland School, competed against each other taking the roles of all the court players in a mock trial based on a case of fly tipping.

All the teams had been working hard practising over the past few weeks with help from magistrates on the Hounslow bench. The standard of performance was very high and the results were very close.

Moira Terry, Hounslow's Bench Chairman, said: "This is the first time that Feltham Magistrates' Court has hosted a heat in this competition which has been running for several years now. The magistrates and court staff have been very enthusiastic and we are delighted that the competition has been such a success.

"We want our local community to be aware of who magistrates are and what work goes on in court, and this provides an excellent chance for us to engage with local people."

Teacher Mary Stainforth from Heathland school said: "The Mock Trial Competition is an ideal opportunity for pupils to develop their debating skills and it also increases their awareness of the judicial system while giving the participants the experience of working as a team under pressure."

Prizes for the winning team were provided by the Wilkinson firm who sponsor the competition overall.

Vouchers from the local shop in the Treaty Centre were presented by The Mayor of Hounslow, Mr Roger Clarke and by Mr Jeff Harris, Borough Commander, Hounslow police who had both observed the whole competition with fascination and interest.

MP Alan Keen, for Feltham and Heston, and Mrs Cheryl Garbett and Mrs Louise Pendlebury, both representatives from the probation service, also came to see the proceedings.