YOUNGSTERS in the Malvern Hills will now have to wait until later this year to stand for election in the district in a bid to get their voices heard, it has been announced.

Malvern Hills District Council's cultural services officer Mark Hammond said official elections for the Malvern Hills Young People's Forum would run in September.

The forum has been going since October 2003 and it had originally been proposed to hold elections in June or July.

However, Mr Hammond said it was felt it would be better to hold them after the summer holidays when potential candidates would have more of an idea of the workload they would have on.

Candidates are now expected to unveil their 'manifestos' at the start of the new term and begin campaigning in earnest before their fate is determined by fellow pupils at the end of September.

At present the council is provisionally made up of representatives from the district's five state secondary schools: Dyson Perrins CE, The Chase High, Chancery High in Martley, Hanley Castle High and Tenbury High, with school councils putting forward pupils.

"The children are now quite keen to be elected properly so they know the other children want them to be there, rather than being nominated by the school councils," said Mr Hammond.

The young people's council is set to meet on Wednesday, June 1, to discuss progress for the elections.

It now also has the support of youth worker James Kelly, who is involved in Worceste-rshire Youth Action and helped set up a youth council in Tewkesbury.

One of its next tasks is helping to organise a live music event - Party in the Park - in Malvern's Priory Park in September with the TG's Skatepark Project group.