NEW magistrates from across County Durham will be sworn in next week.

The 17 magistrates will take the judicial oath and oath of allegiance at Durham Crown Court, on Thursday, January 17.

Of them, eight are from Durham City and the surrounding area, three from Derwentside and one from Chester-le-Street.

The others are from South-West Durham, Sunderland and North Yorkshire.

From the Durham area Susan Baird, Mary Boreham, Gillian Cox, Marlene Gray, Julie Leckenby, Neil Merrie, Dr David Shallow and Malcolm Stephens will be sworn in.

From Derwentside Claire Davies, Christopher Hockaday and Robert Laverick will become magistrates and James Brown from the Chester-le-Street area will also be sworn in.