More than 10,000 children and teenagers from Harrow have taken part in a national consultation to highlight the political issues important to them.

Last month Harrow Youth Parliament, with the support of Harrow Borough Council, urged pupils across the borough to take part in the annual Make Your Mark ballot.

Since then 10,584 have shared their views as part of the consultation, compared to the 3,800 ballots collected last year.

Youth Parliament member for Harrow Zak Wagman said: “For Harrow Youth Parliament to collect so many ballot papers is a fantastic achievement that fills me with pride.

“To not only more than treble last year’s result, but to poll almost half of those eligible represents a campaign on a scale that we have never reached before.

“For us to have a higher turnout than the recent council elections proves that HYP is really doing a great job in engaging young people in democracy.

“Harrow’s youth have voted on what they want to change, and we will strive to work towards the targets that they have set.”

The national ballot called for teenagers to vote for one of ten issues which is most important to them to be debated by the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) in the House of Commons later this year.

These included voting at 16, exam re-sits, payment of the living wage, mental health issues and the funding of youth services.

Cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Simon Brown said: “It is fantastic to see how engaged and passionate our young people are about having a say on issues that matter to them.

“These issues will be debated on a national stage and I hope it gives our young MYPs a chance to voice the concerns of young people in Harrow and a taste of politics at Westminster.”