YOUNG people in Ledbury will have more of a say in the life and direction of their town, with the setting up of a youth council.

Once on board, they will be able to be closely involved with town events and even plan and organise events of their own.

Ledbury residents who are aged between 11 and 17 are invited to open meeting to discuss the idea.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 9, at the Town Council Offices, from 6pm, and young people will be able to discover "how they can become involved".

A project spokesman said: "This meeting is the result of work by a group of Year 11 students from John Masefield High School to establish the best way of setting up a youth council for Ledbury, with support from Cllr Bob Barnes and Sally Holliday of the Town Plan Working Party.

"The initiative began with a questionnaire that was filled in by nearly 400 young people from Ledbury in which they said that they did not feel they had the opportunity to have their say about what happens in Ledbury."

The spokesman added: "This meeting provides an opportunity for young people to come along and find out what the group has been doing, and to get involved themselves to set up a constituted Youth Council with as wide a representation of young people in Ledbury as possible.

"The aim of the Council will be to give young people a voice, and to increase youth involvement within the community with some of Ledbury's annual events and also to arrange events themselves. It will also encourage more communication between generations in town, helping to break down barriers between age groups."