ONLY a week after the General Election, politics was back on the agenda for students on Teesside.

Pupils at High Tunstall School, in Hartlepool, are taking part in a vote to elect a head boy and head girl.

Yesterday saw the hustings for the election, with the ballot being next week.

There are ten candidates vying for the two positions, including six girls and four boys. Two runners-up will be appointed deputies.

Only staff were allowed to select the candidates - all year ten students - but the election will be voted on by staff and pupils.

Yesterday's hustings was attended by newly-re-elected Hartlepool MP Iain Wright.

Teacher James Henderson, head of year ten, said: "We hold an election for head boy and girl every year, but wanted to inject a bit more razzmatazz into it this year, to try and switch students on to politics.

"It seems to have worked, because there's been a lot of interest from them in the event."