A STUDENT from Elthorne Park High School has been as elected as Ealing's latest Youth Mayor.

Budding politician Yasmin Rufo, 15, competed against 10 other candidates during a two-week campaign across schools and youth centres in the borough.

More than 3,000 people aged 13 to 19 cast their votes online or in polling booths, up from 2,749 last year.

Miss Rufo said: "I still can’t believe that I've been elected. I’m grateful to everyone’s votes and am looking forward to representing young people in the coming year."

Miss Rufo already has prior experience in politics. She was on the Ealing Youth Council and spent last year in the UK Youth Parliament representing Ealing.

She said she originally applied for the UK Youth Parliament as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award and her interest in politics grew from there: “I became really passionate about it. I then thought about applying for youth mayor as I believe it’s a position where you can genuinely make a change to young people’s lives."

Councillor Jasbir Anand of, Ealing leader for Health and Adult Services said: “The youth mayor plays a very important role in the council, championing the interests of young residents and representing them at official events. I would like to congratulate all of the candidates on a hard fought campaign, and especially Yasmin for winning."

The position can be demanding. In 2011, youth mayor Jahanara Chaudhry took a prominent role in the aftermath of the Ealing riots, speaking to Sky News and visiting Downing Street.

Miss Rufo said she is up for the challenge and is keen to get going on her manifesto for the year, which includes raising awareness of teenage mental health issues, equal opportunities for all and the creation of a borough-wide consultation of young people on the issues that affect them.

"I want to help make a change, big or small, and be the link between young people and the change-makers. I want to offer somewhere they can turn to and voice their opinions, and get more young people involved with politics."