A HAMPSHIRE resident was a little surprised when he was asked to do jury service - because he is aged 11!

James Taylor did not even know what the duties of a juror were when dad Alan showed him the letter inviting him to Southampton Crown Court.

The shock news comes after the Daily Echo reported on a 13-year-old schoolboy who was allowed to vote in the local council elections.

Schoolboy James, who lives with his dad at Oak Road, Bursledon, said he would quite like to give jury service a try.

But Mr Taylor had to explain to his son, who attends Baycroft School in Southampton, that it would not be possible for the youngster to comply with the summons.

Mr Taylor said: "He was quite surprised but he's prepared to go. However, I think that would be a bit unfair on the people at the court."

If James had been allowed to carry out his civic duties he would have been called on to help decide if a defendant was innocent or guilty of any crime from fraud to murder.

Jurors must be between the ages of 18 and 70 on the first day of the case. Certain people are automatically excluded such as the criminally insane, doctors, judges, lawyers, MPs, clergymen - and 11-year-old boys.

A national spokesman for Court Services said the only way young James could have been selected was if he was on the electoral role.

Andrew Bell said: "All jurors are selected from the electoral role."

Manager of the electoral department for Eastleigh council Sam Ward said people were only put on the electoral role if their names were filled in on the registration cards circulated to homes.

She said no names should be marked on the card for anyone under 16 but if they were included without a date of birth the name would be put on the electoral register.

Mr Taylor later admitted James had been sent a voting card the year before last.

When he told the officials at the polling station they promised to remove his name from the register.

When James did not get a voting card this year he assumed their promise had been kept but the changes cannot have been registered with the court service.

He said: "It's been a right mix-up."

James's verdict on the paperwork blunder? "Guilty!"