A TEENAGER from Hatfield has been elected as a deputy member of the UK Youth Parliament.

Tamanna Ferdousi competed for one of the six MYP seats and six deputy MYP places available, in order to represent the views of Herts youngsters on issues such as drugs and street crime.

The 16-year-old, who attends Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School, was delighted with the results, announced on Saturday last week at County Hall.

She said: “I believe I will make a change to our society for young people.

“Everyone has a right for their voices to be heard, no matter what age they are.

“I want to be the face, mouth and ears of all young people.”

County councillor Richard Thake, executive member for education and skills, congratulated the new young parliamentarians and gave certificates of achievement to all candidates who had taken part.

He said: “I sincerely wish to thank you all for being willing to run for representative office.

“The fact that each and every one of you has been prepared to offer yourself forward, to run the rigours of campaigning and to stand the test of democracy, singles you out as people who care, people who feel they have something to offer and people who would like to ‘make a difference’ and believe they can do so.”