University top-up fees, immigration and the environment were high up on the agenda for teenagers preparing to vote for the first time.

Six eighteen-year-olds from The Chase school, in Malvern, said they had followed the election closely and would all be voting.

Olly Hunt, who turned 18 in October, said: "I'm interested in politics anyway and though some people my age say they don't care about politics, I think it's very important to vote.

"I'm going to vote Green as I've followed their manifesto right through and agree with their environmental and economic policies."

Mastane Williamson said she had doubts about voting at first but decided she should: "I do think it's important, especially as a woman, I feel people have fought for me to have a vote, so I should use it."

Victoria Tuck said: "If every young person didn't think it was important enough to vote, we wouldn't be able to make a difference in the area."

Beth Cartwright said her vote would depend on policies regarding university top-up fees: "I know it might sound selfish, but it's a major issue that will affect me. I think I'll be voting Liberal Democrat because they are the most student-friendly."

Kyle Christie said national issues like taxes and the environment would affect his vote, while Phil Rush said he agreed with Conservative policy on immigration.

"I think it's very important to get students to vote," said head of sixth-form, Mike Woods.

"Some may say politics is boring, but every single part of their lives is affected by it."

The Chase will hold a mock election on May 5 and pupils can vote for their favourite sixth-form candidate.

According to the Electoral Commission, young people are the least likely to vote, with only 39 percent of 18-24 year-olds voting in the 2001 elections.