A TEENAGER, who has been elected as the UK Youth Parliament member for Darlington, has pledged to strengthen links between young people and the elderly, and destroy the negative image of youngsters.

Kevin Nicholson, 16, from Barden Moor Road, Darlington, beat competition from 13 other 11 to 18-year-olds at elections held in the Town Hall on Wednesday night.

He will now serve as the UK Youth Parliament Darlington member for a year.

Ashleigh Trevarrow, 14, a pupil at Branksome School, was elected as the deputy member.

Yesterday, Kevin said he wanted to set up projects that would help bridge the gap between young people and older people across the town.

He helps out with the Firthmoor Over-60s group and hopes to see more young people doing the same.

At the age of 11, the former Eastbourne Comprehensive School pupil set up a youth congress in Firthmoor to help give young people a voice and he has always been interested in politics.

He said: "I have a lot of plans and I feel that a year is not enough to do all I want to do."

The young people took part in workshops before they put themselves forward, prepared and made a speech and then voted for the candidate they felt would best represent the town's young people.

Kevin and Ashleigh will support each other throughout the year and take part in national debates, meet Prime Minister Tony Blair, advise Government ministers on the opinions of young people and travel around the country attending youth parliament events.

The UK Youth Parliament has been running for about five years and aims to give 11 to 18-year-olds a voice in local and national government.

Kevin said: "I feel passionate about the negative attitude towards young people and I want to bridge the gap between young people and the elderly and see more interaction."

He is planning to go to Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in September to study for five AS levels, including politics.