Hertfordshire's 2012 Youth Parliament election recorded the largest ever number of votes, with 27,000 people aged 11 to 18 casting a vote in the online ballot.

A total of 33 young people from all parts of Hertfordshire hit the campaign trail to be elected as Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs).

From these, six new members and six deputies were elected, including two from St Albans.

April Cremins, a 16-year-old student from Loreto College was elected as a member, and Laura Soares, a 15-year-old from St Albans, also a student at Loreto College was elected as a deputy.

Chairman of the council Jane Pitman said: "I was delighted to meet the next set of enthusiastic young politicians who will be taking up the reins for 2012.

"I am sure they will get straight on with the job of finding out what their peers think and taking action to make change happen.

"The increased size of the vote is pleasing and reflects that more and more young people want to get involved in decision-making."

The elections were organised by Youth Connexions Hertfordshire.