Do you want to be a magistrate? A campaign has been launched across Hertfordshire to recruit more volunteers to help deliver justice in our communities.

You don’t need legal qualifications to volunteer. The committee that recommends candidates is keen to create a more socially diverse mix of magistrates at the courts in Stevenage, St Albans and Hatfield.

Herts committee deputy chairman Georgia Martin said: “To help balance the current mix of magistrates in our courts we’d like to see more young people apply – as well as applicants from black and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities, and applicants from non-managerial or professional occupations.”

The committee says it looks for certain personal qualities – character, maturity, sound temperament, social awareness, good judgement, commitment, reliability, understanding and communication.

Applicants must be aged between 18 and 65, and must be able to sit in court for at least 13 full days a year and complete training.

The campaign runs from July 1 to 16. To find out more, have a look at direct.gov.uk/magistrates.