LITTLE Mix have been named as among young people's favourite acts in a new report which says that music improves wellbeing.

Little Mix - which includes two members from South Shields, in South Tyneside - Ed Sheeran and Stormzy came top in a survey of 1,001 children and young people in England aged from seven to 17.

Entitled The Sound Of The Next Generation, the research was published by Youth Music, a national charity investing in music-making projects that help children and young people develop personally and socially as well as musically.

Of those responding, 85 per cent said music made them feel happy, while 41 per cent said it make them feel cool and 39 per cent said it made them excited.

Some 64 per cent of respondents said they think they are musical, up from 48 per cent in 2006.

According to the research, music is young people's favourite pastime, along with gaming.

The report also suggested that the creative process of making music has a more profound impact than listening to it.

Those who made music in the last week said they were less likely to say that they "often feel lonely".

Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths said: "Young people are using music as a resource to draw on, a coping mechanism to support their personal wellbeing.

"They're doing this creatively, strategically and - often - independently.

"There's an opportunity therefore for schools, charities and the music industry to support young people to use music in this way.

"To re-imagine the purpose of music and music education for social and wellbeing outcomes. And in doing so, make it more inclusive and impactful."