Pledges such as making the streets safer are what swung the vote for the borough’s four newest elected members of the UK Youth Parliament.

Croydon’s Modupe Lucas, Dania Badran, Javell Nelson and Rosina Rahim will join hundreds of other wannabe politicians across the country to speak up for youth rights.

Modupe, 14, gained the highest number of votes in the election which took place last Friday.

She is this year’s youngest representative, and said: “I’m determined to try and make a real difference, and I’ll be talking to lots of people to make sure the things I do and say properly reflect what the majority of people want to see happen.”

Other themes which ran through the successful candidates’ speeches, given at a question time at Croydon College last month, included changing the perception of young people and finding more for them to do.

All who ran for election are invited to form the youth council each year, meaning they are still able to represent young people’s views for the coming year.

Rosina Rahim, 17, was elected as the second deputy representative for the Youth Parliament.

She said: “Anyone who has ideas about how to improve the lives of young people in Croydon should get in touch so that we can talk to them and work out what can be done.”

For more information visit www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk.