THE British legal system may traditionally be perceived as the finest in the world, but nothing in life stands still.

This country's ethnic and social mix has changed dramatically over recent decades and the legal system must reflect this.

Now, court chiefs are urging a greater cross-section of people to apply to become magistrates. Mr Alex Carlos, Clerk to the Justices, is appealing to members of the town's ethnic communities and to "blue collar" workers to come forward.

There has never been a time when it was more important that the legal system is seen to accurately reflect life in Britain today. We join Mr Carlos in this plea to more community-minded citizens to consider applying, and to keeping our courts as representative as we have always boasted they are.