A YOUTH call for better leisure facilities and policing has gone directly to the Prime Minister.

Mr Blair has got the message from 50 members of Leigh and Wigan Youth Parliament who met in a mock debate at Leigh Town Hall where Leigh MP Andy Burnham said he heard more sensible comments than he did in the Houses of Parliament!

Pupils from nine local schools including Bedford High, Golborne High, Westleigh High, Mornington High, Hesketh Fletcher and Kingshill were joined by Mr Burnham and Hope Carr Councillor John O'Brien -- Mr Speaker -- at Leigh Town Hall.

A lively debate followed presentations by each school and ended in pupils highlighting better leisure and sports facilities and more police as their public spending priorities. They also voted in favour of a ban on smoking in the borough's public buildings.

Mr Burnham has reported on the day's proceedings to the Prime Minister and asked him to consider pupils' views when deciding government priorities.

He said: "It is said that young people today aren't interested in politics. Friday shows that's just not true. I heard far more sense spoken in Leigh Town Hall than I ever do in the House of Commons!

"It is clear that teenagers in the area feel strongly that there is not enough for them to do out of school hours."

They want more leisure facilities like cinema, sports pitches, skate parks, youth clubs and places to go in the evening.

"But they were also very concerned about crime and argued convincingly that better leisure would help reduce problems with youth gangs. That has got to be right and is a message that the politicians are going to have to take on board."

Councillor O'Brien said: "At a time when the majority of council surgery cases concern complaints about youth gangs and anti-social behaviour, it was refreshing and encouraging to meet a group of young people who expressed such a keen interest in their local communities and who were able to articulate what they felt should be done to help solve current problems."