MORE than 2,500 Darlington youngsters took to the polls to elect the borough's national youth representative.

Voting for the Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) took place in schools across Darlington on Thursday, and saw 27.3 per cent of all 11 to 18-year-olds cast votes.

Five candidates stood for election - Kevin Nicholson, 17, who has been the town's MYP for the past year, and 15-year-olds Ashleigh Trevarrow, Christian Smith, Lorin Shepherdson and Matthew Mason.

Ashleigh, who has served as deputy MYP for the past year, was declared the winner at the election count in Darlington's Dolphin Centre, on Thursday night, polling 33 per cent of the votes.

She will now serve as the town's MYP for the next two years, and will represent the borough's youth at a local and national level.

Yesterday, the Branksome School pupil told The Northern Echo of her delight at being elected, and her plans for her term in office.

"I was so shocked, I couldn't believe it, I nearly cried, and my mum and dad were so pleased. It didn't register straight away I'd got the most votes," she said.

"Now, I want to get started with work as soon as possible.

"I want to create an Internet cafe for young people in the town centre, and am looking at places where we could have it.

"It would be somewhere to meet with friends, and because it will also have the Internet, you could get help with coursework. Two or three times a week we could hold a specific homework night."

Ashleigh said she was looking at applying for funding from sources including Millennium Volunteers, the UK Youth Parliament and the North-East Really Delivers to help with her plans.

Diane Jones, assistant headteacher at Branksome, said the school was very proud of Ashleigh.

"She is a credit to herself and the school, and we're all sure she will make a fabulous MYP," she said.

Darlington Borough Councillor Chris McEwan, cabinet member for children's services, praised young people for exercising their right to vote.

"It was a tremendous achievement to enable such a large number of young people to exercise their right to vote, and pleasing to see that so many did vote," he said.

"I am very much looking forward to working closely with Ashleigh, the new MYP."