YOUNG people from around the world donned their national dress to mark the start of a conference yesterday.

The conference, called Citizen You, is being held in Sunderland to give young people the chance to explore their ideas on citizenship, share thoughts and experiences, and promote citizenship in their home communities.

Organised by the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council (CYEC), it is being attended by more than 200 delegates from 52 Commonwealth countries.

The event is the culmination of an exchange programme, also organised by the CYEC, which links all Commonwealth countries with UK communities.

It will be declared open today by Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge, president of the CYEC, and special guests the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The delegates, from countries including Dominica, in the West Indies, the Maldives, Kenya, Zambia and Papua New Guinea, have spent time with host groups across the country, before travelling to Sunderland.

Pete Stout, vice-chairman of the CYEC, said: "This summit gives young people the opportunity to debate their ideas, aims and visions for the future, which will be fed back to a host of organisations to help them understand how young adults would like to see their world develop. After all, it is young people like these who will be our leaders of tomorrow."

Planned by a committee of young people based in the North-East, the event is supported by British Airways, Sunderland City Council, Sunderland University and Sir Tom Cowie, and complements other Commonwealth events in July, including the Commonwealth Games.