Big day for the first-time voters

Senior prefect Ed Hancox said: "I'm looking forward to being able to vote for the first time. It means you're being accepted into the adult world and your opinion is being taken into account.

Number 10 is a big concern of mine - I'd like it to be made less bureaucratic because over the last 20 years it has become increasing paper-driven.

"I think whichever way I vote this area will remain Conservative but there's a lot of apathy among voters my age and that needs to be looked at. Politicians keep talking about hard-working families but there are many people who aren't part of traditional nuclear families and their problems aren't being addressed."

Classmate James Spry believes a tougher approach on crime is a vote winner for him: "People aren't hard enough on crime and criminals aren't made to pay for their actions. But police are quick to judge young people. I went for a walk quite late at night and some police spotted me and told me to go home. They've got to find a medium."

Student Philippa Latham supports the new 24-hour licensing laws: "I think it's a good thing because the only reason people go home at the end of the night is because the bar shuts. Everyone leaves together and that's when trouble can start."

Fellow pupil Tom Storer said: "When it comes to voting you look for issues you agree with within each party, and things like health and education will always be important. I think you have the same concerns no matter how old you are."

Student Laura Rhodes is certainly concerned about the future: "I think the lack of cheap housing for people in their mid-20s wanting to get on the property ladder is something that needs to be looked at. But then, people like the idea of affordable housing schemes but they don't necessarily want them in their neighbourhoods."