CAMPAIGNERS for and against a regional assembly will put their message to a young audience next week.

Although they are too young to vote on the assembly issue, pupils at Easington Community School, in east Durham, are to take part in a mock referendum.

All 950 pupils will have the chance to vote yes or no for the elected assembly in the referendum on the final day for the official poll, on Thursday, November 4.

During the build-up to the big day, leaflets giving summaries of the arguments put forward by both yes and no lobby groups will be issued round the school. The event has been organised by Jon Gregory, the school's head of citizenship, as part of Local Democracy Week.