A COUNTY councillor has volunteered to put his reputation on the line and survived the first round of a reality web game for schools.

Former district council leader, Howard Martin, who represents Hoobrook on Worcestershire County Council, was voted into joint second place in the popularity stakes.

The Health Concern member was relieved not to be the first to be voted off by the county's schoolchildren in the game I'm a Councillor - Get Me Out of Here! That unwelcome distinction went to Redditch county councillor, Diane Thomas.

The game is being run as part of Local Democracy Week and aims to introduce young people into the workings of councils.

Councillor Martin spent an hour being grilled by 14-year-olds at King Charles I High School at the launch of the game and was impressed by their interest and good natures.

Since then, he has been bombarded with web questions from pupils at the school and from Bewdley High, Stourport High, Kidderminster College and other schools around the county.

If his responses are popular he could win but, if they do not come up to scratch, he faces being voted off. Alternatively, if the going gets too tough, he could hit the eject button and escape.

"If 14-year-olds start to understand what local government and democracy is all about then that is a good thing and worth supporting," said Councillor Martin.