MINEHEAD will have what is believed to be the youngest town councillor in the country when 18-year-old Emily Jones becomes Independent ward member for Periton and Woodcombe next month.

Elected unopposed for the ward vacancy on Minehead Town Council, Emily is looking forward to representing young people in the town and hopes to get them more involved in community life, which she believes could be at least a partial answer to the current wave of trouble-making and vandalism.

A resident of her ward, Emma has lived in Minehead all her life and had the full support of her parents when she decided to become involved in local government. Currently she is working as a volunteer at the Old Hospital and plans to study architecture or similar creative skills.

Emily told the Free Press: “I know I am very young but I want to join the council so that I can speak for the young people of Minehead, who up to now have not had anyone representing them of their own age.

“Being the same age I can talk to them as an equal and find out what they want and get then involved in what’s happening in the town."

For the full story see this week’s West Somerset Free Press.