A NEWLY-elected North-East councillor is keeping it in the family by following her mother, father and grandfather into politics.

Emma Vasey-Smith, 23, attended her first full council meeting in Darlington along with parents and fellow Labour councillors Lee and John Vasey on Thursday night.

Lee's father, David Forbes, is also a politician, having served more than ten years as a Labour member for Sunderland City Council.

"It's been lovely watching my family work as councillors and I love the way they've helped the community," said Emma, who at 23 is Darlington Borough Council's youngest member. "I just decided I wanted to do the same.

"We all went to a meeting the other night and it was great but I have to get used to the fact that at meetings they are not my parents, they're my colleagues."

Lee, 46, said she was delighted that Emma, a chef and mother-of-one, had decided to follow in the family's footsteps.

"We are just the kind of family who like the toing and froing of politics and being involved in the community."

Coun Forbes, 70, said all the family were interested in politics: "I'm pleased that they have continued the tradition."