YOUNG people from diverse backgrounds around the world will gather in the North-East next month to share their views of life in the 21st Century.

More than 200 delegates will attend the Commonwealth Youth Summit, in Sunderland, which this year adopts the theme Citizen You.

Sunderland University is hosting the conference at its St Peter's Campus, with a royal start scheduled as the Earl and Countess of Wessex are expected to open proceedings, on July 2.

The summit, which runs until July 6, is the culmination of an exchange programme linking all the countries of the Commonwealth with communities across the UK.

It will allow the delegates to explore their visions of citizenship, share ideas and experiences and encourage them to promote their home communities.

All those taking part will be aged 18 to 25 and come from more than 50 nations of the Commonwealth.

Pete Stout, chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council, said: "This summit gives young people the opportunity to debate their ideas, aims and visions which will be fed back to a host of organisations to help them to 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," he said.

Julie Elliott, marketing manager for Sunderland City Council, described the event as a major global summit, which Wearside is proud to be hosting.

It was planned by a committee of young people and backed by British Airways, Sunderland City Council, Sunderland University, plus former motor dealer and university benefactor Sir Tom Cowie.