YOUNG people from across East Lancashire joined a mass lobby of parliament calling on MPs and Lords to support a campaign to lower the voting age to 16.

The seven members of the Lancashire Youth Council's ‘Votes for 16’ campaign group, supported by Lancashire Young People's Service, joined more than 150 young people from across the UK to speak directly to parliamentarains.

Upon arrival in Parliament young people held meetings with MPs in an attempt to convince them of the merits of lowering the voting age, with representatives from all three major parties present. They explained why they are campaigning for 16-year-olds to be eligible to vote.

The lobby was organised by the British Youth Council and involved the campaign’s supporters meeting with MPs and Lords one-to-one. Hollie Foden, 18, member of the youth parliament for Burnley, said: “I felt the day was very productive despite the weather.

“MPs seemed interested in knowing the work we do, even when they didn’t support the campaign and hopefully soon we will have a successful campaign.”

Loren Coles, 17, who represents Chorley, said: “For any future bill to be successful, the coalition needs as many Lords and MPs to support our campaign as possible.”

Campaigning on lowering the voting age is a key part of the British Youth Council's plans for 2014, which are centred on raising the turnout of young people at next year's General Election.