THOUSANDS of young people in County Durham voted for their representatives in the UK Youth Parliament on Friday.

Three winners from across the county will members of the Youth Parliament (MYP) and each will have a deputy.

Ian Robinson, 17, who attends Durham Gilesgate Sixth Form, will represent the Durham City and East constituency.

His number two is Rebecca Newton, 14, who is from Kelloe and got involved through the Gilesgate Project youth organisation. They were chosen from 13 hopefuls.

Nine young people stood for the Wear Valley and Teesdale seat, with Joseph Emery, 15, of Parkside School, in Willington, near Crook, as the winner.

His deputy will be schoolmate Heidi Sowerby, also 15.

Phillip Marshall, 13, of Moorside Community Technical College, is the member for Derwentside and Chester-le-Street, from a batch of 12 aspiring politicians.

His deputy is Natalie English, 17, who is from Consett and attends Durham Gilesgate Sixth Form.

More than 4,300 votes were cast and the results were announced at County Hall, in Durham.

Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods congratulated the winners and wished them luck.

She said: "I hope you work hard to make this UK Youth Parliament really work."

The UK Youth Parliament is the organisation through which people aged 11 to 18 can air their collective views directly to the Prime Minister, other Government ministers and Opposition parties.

The chief returning officer was Durham County Council Leader Councillor Ken Manton.

He said: "Your election is just as important as mine or Roberta Blackman-Woods."