BOLTON has two new youth MPs — after an impressive 18,900 votes were cast by the town's teens.

Jaya Patel, aged 16, of Rivington and Blackrod School and Jonathan Wright, aged 16, of Thornleigh Salesian College came out on top, beating five other candidates to the title.

Voting opened on March 16 for secondary school pupils to have their say on who they wanted to represent them in the UK Youth Parliament.

Jonathan Wright, who led the way in terms of votes with 4,820, said: “I am very happy that all those people have put their trust in me to be their youth MP.

“I will carry on my work with the youth council to raise awareness of mental health services and work to bring life skills into schools and make sure that young people are involved in the decisions affecting the town centre.”

Jaya Patel, who got 3,821 votes, said: “I am going to be focussing on diversity and bringing different cultures, religions and faiths together.

“I also want to bring life skills into school and become a figure head for young people so that they can come and talk to me with their crises and their enjoyments.”

As youth MPs the pair will be tasked with finding out the concerns, interests and needs of other young people in Bolton and then will discuss these on a local, regional and national level with the help of councillors, MPs and other key decision makers.

They will also attend regional meetings and meet with the UK Youth Parliament once a year.

Also standing in this year’s youth elections was Charli Fairbrother, Ella Round and Simone Hart from Westhoughton High School, Matthew Kyle from Bolton School and Natalie Armstrong from Canon Slade Sixth Form.

Bolton Council's cabinet member for culture, youth and sport, Cllr John Byrne, said: “The amount of votes that were cast is unbelievable.

“It is great to see the confidence of these young people, some as young as 14, standing up and speaking as well as they do.

“It just shows what fantastic young people they are and what an asset they are to Bolton.”

The newly elected MPs will take over from Tresor Mbuyi from Thornleigh Salesian College and Ebony Cropper from Bolton St Catherine’s Academy.

Two deputies will also be elected from this year’s candidates.

BOLTON YOUTH MP ELECTION RESULTS

Charli Fairbrother — 2,863

Elle Round — 1,053

Jaya Patel — 3,821

Jonathan Wright — 4,820

Matthew Kyle — 1,977

Natalie Armstrong — 2,790

Simone Hart — 1,612