A TEENAGER from the region has become one of the first in the country to join a local government partnership initiative.

Jamie Dillon, 18, from Darlington, has become one of the first Members of the Youth Parliament (MYP) to be elected to a Local Strategic Partnership board in the UK.

Jamie has joined the Darlington Partnership to add a young person's perspective to the board's discussions about ways to develop and promote the town.

Jamie works for Darlington council as a peer mentor where he helps other young people deal with issues such as drugs, alcohol, racism and equal opportunities.

He also spends time on the council's Blitz Bus, which travels around the Darlington area providing young people with access to information on a range of issues.

Jamie said: "Young people have a valuable contribution to make to our society so it's important that their voice is heard.

"I was elected as Darlington's MYP earlier this year to represent the town's young people locally and nationally. My involvement in the Darlington Partnership Board will enable me to fulfil that role at a local level."

Chairman of the Darlington Partnership, Alasdair MacConachie, said "We have a wide range of representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors on our board and we are also keen to include more community representatives.

"Young people are our future and Jamie offers us the opportunity to hear their voice. His appointment will help us assess the right priorities for the area and help keep us on track in delivering them."