A BRIDPORT teenager is canvassing for votes in the hopes of becoming a politician.

Sir John Colfox School student Zoe Bevis, 16, is one of five young people hoping to be elected as one of Dorset's two members of the National Youth Parliament.

She is being opposed by two candidates from Dorchester, and one each from Weymouth and Sherborne.

West Dorset's senior youth worker Arthur Woodgate said: "Zoe is an extremely positive and active young person in our community.

"She has been a volunteer worker with the Bridport House Club for a number of years, and is a member of both the Bridport Youth Assembly and the West Dorset Youth Council.

"She is a stalwart of the award-winning Youth Page in the News, and won recognition herself this year as one of West Dorset District Council's Community Champions and as one of the Volunteer Centre's Community Activists."

Zoe's extensive fund-raising activities have benefited, among others, the Youth Centre's Japanese Exchange Programme, and the Sir John Colfox School's sixth form Rag Week.

A familiar face behind the counter at Leakers Bakery, Zoe will be campaigning across the area in the hope that she can gather enough votes to gain one of those Youth Parliament seats - just as fellow Colfox student Ruby Thurston did three years ago.

* See next week's Youth Page Special on local democracy, with an article from Zoe on her aspirations to become a member of the Youth Parliament.

In the meantime, if you'd like to vote for Zoe, go to the dorsetforyou website (see link below), then on to 'Candidates and voting'. You can even see a video of Zoe in action.