A STUDENT from Harwich has been elected to stand for the UK Youth Parliament.

The Young Essex Assembly sat for the first time at the weekend.

After team-building sessions the 75 young people voted for the members they wanted to represent the county in the UK Youth Parliament.

Taylor Whigham, 15, from Harwich and Dovercourt High School, was one of 12 successful candidates.

Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for Education, said: “It was fantastic to meet with the Young Essex Assembly and I look forward to working with them over the next two years.”