MPs are desperate to engage youngsters in the world of politics.

They visit schools to try to get them interested long before they reach voting age.

This, they believe, is the best way of improving the UK's shocking turnout rate among 18-24 year-olds in future years.

Unfortunately, the success of these worthwhile efforts has been limited.

Time and again, surveys come back with depressing news that children barely even know who the leader of the Opposition is - let alone their local MP.

They would not recognise him or her if they bumped into them in the street.

This week Mike Foster found out just how true, in at least some cases, this statement is.

Mike's brush with one of his more youthful constituents came after one of his regular surgery sessions at Lyppard Grange Community Centre in Warndon Villages.

He was walking along, chatting to an adult constituent, when he was approached by a youngster in high-spirits.

Says Mike: "He came bounding over and came straight out with what he wanted.

"He was only about 14 but he said: 'Excuse me, mate. Will you go into that shop and buy me some booze?'

"I didn't know what to say and thought he was, ahem, taking the mickey out of me.

"The constituent I was with asked if the lad knew who I was, but he clearly didn't.

"He just said: 'Don't worry. I've got the money and I will pay you back. It's just I can't get any myself.'

"At this point I decided to tell him who I was and said I didn't think it was very wise to be asking his local MP to buy alcohol for him."

So did Mike's words do the trick? "I suppose you could say I connected with him - with a few harsh words at least.

"But when I walked back past where he had been standing later on he was still there, trying to persuade another adult to buy him some drink."

Needless to say, Mike is not for giving up.

Letters are in the post to the local beat bobby to make sure patrols are stepped up in the area.