NEWLY-elected youngsters were welcomed into their new roles at their first official appearance as national Youth Parliament members (MYPs) for Hillingdon this week.

Soila Apparicio, Fjolla Krasniqi and their deputy, Mufaro Mutaurwa, were elected online by their peers from the borough's secondary schools in February.

The three MYPs were at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge, where they met the Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, Cllr David Simmonds.

"These are young people with lots to say," said Cllr Simmonds. "Their drive and determination to make their voices heard and raise the issues affecting their age group show that the future of our borough will be in safe hands.”

The three successful candidates launched their election bids at the Hillingdon Youth Conference last November, when they argued for what they felt should be the priorities for young people in the borough.