A NORTH-EAST student's short film encouraging young people to vote is to be used in a national advertising campaign.

Christophe Tuck, a 22-year-old business finance student at Durham University, has won The Electoral Commission's national Votes are Power design competition.

The contest invited 16 to 24-year-olds to produce designs encouraging other young people to think about voting.

A exhibition containing the work of 40 finalists has toured the UK, where the public could vote for their favourite design or film.

The exhibition ended with a private viewing for MPs in the Houses of Parliament.

Mr Tuck's short film was revealed as the winning design at an awards ceremony at the Royal Society for the Arts in London and will now feature in a national advertising campaign by the Electoral Commission.

As part of his prize, Mr Tuck will be able to hone his talents during a work placement with a leading advertising agency.