A STUDENT has taken his first step into the political arena after he was was elected to represent Redcar and Cleveland in Youth Parliament.

Timothy Would won the election by receiving 1013 of the votes and will now act as Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) for the next 20 months.

The 13-year-old Redcar Academy student is joined by runner-up Jacob Wanstall, 14, who will act as Deputy Member (DMYP).

Lucy Grogan, 14 and Thomas Harvey, 12, pupils at Huntcliff School, and Daniel Wall, 15, from Rye Hills School were the other three candidates bidding for the role.

The teenager will now work to find out the concerns of other young people in the constituency and represent these views to decision makers on a local, regional and national level.

Run by young people, the UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 11-18 year-olds to use their voice in creative ways to bring about social change.

Elected members will be taking part in an annual debate in the House of Commons chamber, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons RT Hon John Bercow MP, to decide on which issues will become the prioritised campaigns for the year ahead.