TWO youngsters will be treated as VIPs for a day after winning a competition to become Darlington's junior mayor and mayoress.

Each year, a competition is held by Darlington Borough Council to give two young people a day to remember.

Sean Kelly and Laura Arkle, both ten, will make several personal appearances and visits during their tour of duty with Darlington's Mayor, Councillor Isobel Hartley, on Thursday, May 9.

Sean, a pupil at Corporation Road Junior School, and Laura, from Whinfield Junior School, will be picked up in the mayoral car and will be taken to the mayor's parlour, before heading off on various visits around the borough. They will also have their portraits taken by Studio 81.

To win this year's competition, they had to write an essay saying how they would like Darlington to celebrate the Queen's golden jubilee.

A total of 223 entrants took part in the competition.