EIGHT new Justices of the Peace were sworn in to serve on the bench in Ayr last week.

They included former Superintendent at Ayr Police Office, Bruce Kennedy.

A total of 24 JPs were installed to their new posts at courts in Ayr, Dumfries and Galloway and Lanarkshire by Sheriff Principal, Brian Lockhart, at a ceremony in Court One at Ayr Sheriff Court.

And the Sheriff Principal passed on some words of advice that he was given when he first began dispensing justice.

He told the new recruits - all of whom are volunteers for their new roles and receive no payment: "Being a judge is a privilege, do not abuse it. Treat others as you would wish to be treated. Courtesy is perhaps the most important attribute of a good judge. Do what you think is right - to thyself be true."

The new Ayr JPs pictured with Sheriff Principal Lockhart are: back row l to r, Robin Howard, Gordon Littler, David Jamieson, Bruce Kennedy Front row, l to r Alex Russell, Carole Boswell, Patricia Gray and Robert McCroskie Also present at the ceremony were the Deputy Lord Lieutenant George Hay, Provost Helen Moonie and the Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent John Thomson. They were joined by Justice Johan Findlay, Chairman of the Justices Training Committee and Sheriff McFadyen, both members of the JPAC who recommend the appointment of the new Justices.