TWO teenagers have been elected by young people in Inverclyde to represent them in the Scottish Youth Parliament.

All pupils from local secondary schools were eligible to vote in the poll contested by Megan Alford from Notre Dame, Cameron Noble from Inverclyde Academy, Eilidh Denny from Inverclyde Academy and Bethany Stewart from Port Glasgow High.

After 2,724 votes were cast Megan and Cameron, both 15, were elected.

They will take office at the next sitting of the Scottish Youth Parliament which will take place in Clackmannanshire in June.

Megan and Cameron will also join the Inverclyde Youth Council to represent the interests of young people locally.

Megan says she has a number of goals she would like to pursue.

She said: “I want all young people in Inverclyde to be able to achieve their full potential and their goals.

"I believe that at the age of 16 that young people should have their say in votes.

“I want to fight for more opportunities for our young people to help them grow and develop and I believe that they should be paid what they deserve and shouldn’t be paid less because of their age.

"I want to make the community a better, safer and happier place to live in.”

Cameron meanwhile wants to increase opportunities available to young people living in the district.

He said: “The list of opportunities for young people in Inverclyde is not that large and the opportunities that there are don’t have a large enough number of spaces for the young people who want to do them.

“A lot of pressure is put on young people these days and it’s easy for mental health to impact your everyday life from the way you act to the way you perform in tasks that have been put in front of you.

“I aim to make it easier for young people to come forward with any of these concerns and have support right at their doorstep.”

Councillor Natasha Murphy, vice convener of Inverclyde Council’s education and communities committee and young person’s champion, was delighted to see such a good turnout in the poll.

She said: “I’m delighted that so many local young people made their voices heard by casting their vote.

"I’d like to congratulate all of the candidates and wish the newly-elected MSYPs the best of luck.

“It is excellent to see that young people want to be involved in political decision making and want their voices to be heard."