Schoolgirl Alice Moore plans to make a big difference in the county if successful in the Wiltshire Assembly of Youth and UK Youth Parliament elections.

The Trowbridge Clarendon Academy pupil, 11, has been campaigning to represent west Wiltshire and hopes that people aged between 11 and 19 vote in the elections which began on Monday and run until Sunday.

Eligible voters can send a free text to 80800 with the name of their favoured candidate.

If elected, Alice would seek to improve transport and leisure facilities for Wiltshire’s young people.

“I think this would be a good opportunity to make a difference and one of the key things I’d look at include kick starting youth clubs around Wiltshire so meeting other people could become easier,” the Year 7 pupil said.

“I’d like to improve transport also and look at making buses and rail services cheaper and more reliable.”

Lee Gunton, 16, who studies at Melksham Oak, is also standing to represent west Wiltshire in both elections.

He wants to bring back the education maintenance allowance to support those in further education and improve the perception of young people by highlighting the good work many do.

The A-level pupil said: “It’s important for young people to have a voice in society. We can’t keep getting pushed aside because young people are the future.

“I’m running in this election because I want to make a positive difference to the lives of young people in Wiltshire and I believe if we work together, we can.”

Divisions for Wiltshire Assembly of Youth and UK Youth Parliament elections are broken into north, west and east Wiltshire.

Three members and three deputies will be elected.

See candidates’ profiles at www.sparksite.co.uk.