Young people in Bury St Edmunds are being urged to make their views known in a nationwide consultation.

Toby Jeffery, the elected Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP) for the Bury constituency, is taking part in the annual Make Your Mark ballot.

The ballot, which is the largest consultation of its type, runs until October 19.

People aged 11 to 18 across the United Kingdom will be asked what issues matter most to them.

The results of the consultation will decide what gets debated by the UK Youth Parliament in the House of Commons on November 13.

Voting takes places both online and through ballot papers issued in schools and youth centres.

Ten topics will be available to choose from on the initial Make Your Mark ballot paper, with the five most popular topics among young people going on to be discussed by MYPs in their November debate. The debate will be chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP, and broadcast live on BBC Parliament.

Toby said: “Last year, the Make Your Mark ballot surveyed the opinions of over 875,000 young people, making it the largest youth consultation of its kind in the UK.

“This year, MYPs have set themselves a target of getting 1,000,000 young people to take part.”

The 17-year-old MYP, who will be running the Make Your Mark campaign in his constituency, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to engage in some really serious issues that will affect them now, and in the future.

“Bury is full of caring and knowledgeable young people, and this ballot is about reaching out to them to get their views on these topics.

“I’m extremely grateful to County Upper School and Moreton Hall Preparatory School for signing up to take part in this consultation.

“Other schools and youth groups in Bury St Edmunds can still contact me, in order to engage their students through this ballot.”