BUDDING Gordon Browns and David Camerons turned out en mass when the district held its elections to the Youth Council.

Schools across Epping Forest set up polling stations where students could decide which of their peers were best placed to make a difference, and 25 youngsters were duly elected.

Among the successful candidates were Abigail Endean, and Haris Duherich of Debden Park High School, in Willingale Road.

Abigail , 16, said: “I didn't know anything about it but I'd done work experience in the dance department of Epping Forest Youth, and they said: 'You should try it it's a really good thing to have.'

“I thought I had some good points. I thought there should be more in Loughton like a cinema. Especially with winter coming it's horrible for us all to be sitting at home bored. You need somewhere to go to have fun with your friends.”

Haris, 13, said: “I asked my friends to vote for me, but they were all being serious and said they'd read our statement before they did. I think there's not a lot to do in this area. There should be more entertainment to keep kids off the street- there's a lot of that.

“It's good that it's not just adults, it's kids who can get their points across. You can go into other schools and talk to their youth councillors if you want to talk about something.”

The newly elected councillors will now have an induction day at the district council offices where they will find out what their new job entails.