St Albans Crown Court opened to the public on Saturday to mark the city's historic association with the Magna Carta.

To celebrate the 800th anniversary of the "Great Charter" the court staged mock trials and sentencing hearings, police dog demonstrations, a tour of the cells and gave visitors the chance to sit in a police and prison van.

It was in St Albans in 1213 that Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, other churchmen and barons first met to discuss their grievances against King John.

That led to the articles that became Magna Carta, sealed at Runnymede on June 15, 1215.

For the first time it was acknowledged everyone is subject to the law and every man had the right to a fair trial.

The crourt's resident judge, Andrew Bright QC, wrote to school students from across the county inviting them to attend.

During the mock trials at which he presided over, students were invited to sit on the jury to decide the cases.

Sentencing hearings involved a wide range of offences and one courtroom was given over to the work of magistrates dealing with cases ranging from motoring offences to burglary.

Judge Bright said: "There was a demonstration of the work of police dogs and an opportunity to have a tour of the cells beneath the court and to sit in a police and prison van.

"Visitors could have their fingerprints taken and saw a display comparing the uniforms and equipment of policemen in days gone by with that of the modern-day police officer.

"The purpose of the open day was to allow visitors see at first-hand how our courts operate. It gave people a much clearer insight into our system of justice."