A TEENAGER from Leigh has been elected as a representative of the borough in the UK Youth Parliament.

Keegan Moran, 14, is one of two representatives who will stand up for Wigan borough after ten stood for election with a record 9,442 young people voting.

Director of children’s services at Wigan Council, James Winterbottom, announced the results at a special inauguration ceremony at Wigan Town Hall.

Keegan said: "This has been quite a surprise but it is absolutely brilliant.

"I cannot find the words to describe how I am feeling.

"I am looking forward to it and one of my aims will be to help make the borough more autism friendly."

William Powell, 13, from Orrell, is the other person who will represent the borough.

William and Keegan will support other young people in the House of Commons to debate national issues and decide what to campaign about.

Before then, they will survey and run events for local young people to discover which national issues they feel most strongly about so they can accurately represent their views.