A KENDAL student has been selected as Cumbria's first Member of Youth Parliament for the South Lakes and Barrow.

Tom Latham, 19, from the town's Queen Katherine School, was one of more than 30 candidates who put themselves forward across Cumbria. He will now sit in the Youth Parliament at the House of Commons, representing the views of young people in the area.

“I’m honoured and slightly surprised to have been elected; the next 15 months are going to be very busy," said Tom, who enjoys mountain biking and canoeing. "It was great fun campaigning; I’m looking forward to getting young people interested in local issues and voting. The top three issues I am going to work on are cheaper transport, votes at 16 and climate change.”

His deputy will be Will Adams of Barrow Sixth Form School.

Nearly 6,000 young people voted online from December 8-12, representing a 15.1% turnout, and the successful candidates were announced at an election count held at County Hall, Kendal, on Saturday (Dec 13).