A FORMER Clacton carnival princess could become Tendring’s youngest councillor.

Pia Smith, 21, is standing for Labour in Clacton’s Pier ward at May’s district council elections.

The former Alton Park Primary and Clacton County High School pupil also represented the town as a carnival princess when she was aged just 13.

The youngster’s interest in politics started last year after she got involved with the charity group set up to raise cash for the victims of the Cloes Lane gas explosion.

She said: "I want more people to get involved and I want to encourage more young people to register to vote. Young people are the future of our community.”

Read the full story in the Clacton Gazette, out now.