ASPIRING young politicians from across Redbridge will hope to win the right to represent the borough at the national Youth Parliament when elections begin next Monday.

Each Redbridge school will put forward a candidate to fill one of the borough's four positions on the influential body - which represents the interests of hundreds of thousands of pupils.

Each candidate will have to produce a 150 word statement explaining why they want to be Redbridge's Member of the Youth Parliament.

A council spokesman said: "Redbridge pupils and students aged between 11 and 18 years vote for two Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) and two deputies to represent the borough on a range of issues and to give them a voice which will be heard and listened to by central government.

Nine candidates from Redbridge are currently standing for a place on the body next year.

Voting - which will take place at secondary schools and youth centres - is due to close on Friday, November 27.

The final count will take place on Monday, December 7 at Ilford Town Hall.