YOUNG people from across Bolton have been given the chance to grill the borough’s politicians.

About 90 young people took part in a Political Speed Rating event organised by Bolton Youth Council, where they had the chance to sit at tables with councillors and ask them questions.

Every four minutes they would then move on to the next table and ask questions of a different councillor.

A total of 13 councillors took part and, at the end of the night, the young people voted for which councillor’s views and ideas were most appealing to them, with Bolton Council’s Cabinet Member for Sport Christopher Peacock being crowned the winner.

Ciara Steele, Bolton Council’s Children and Young People Participation Officer, helped to organise the event.

She said: “Young people came up with the idea and it’s a way for them to ask questions. The Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Guy Harkin and Collette Harkin, were there this time and answered questions about what they do.

“It was for young people aged 12 to 21 and they were from right across the community, including some in care and others with disabilities. It’s about helping to build relationships between young people and their councillors.”

Cllr Peacock, aged 29, is Bolton Council’s third youngest councillor.

He said: “It was a great honour to have been elected as the Bolton Youth Council’s Political Speed Rating Champion for 2012. It was a very tough contest with the number of councillors who took part.

“All the councillors who attended enjoyed listening and responding to the questions and issues raised by the young people from across Bolton.

“There certainly were some tough questions and they clearly had taken a great deal of time to think about what they wanted to ask.