YOUNG people are to be given the chance to sound-off about life in Bolton.

Town Hall chiefs recently published the findings of their first survey of the Bolton Citizens Panel.

The panel consisted of 1,875 Bolton residents chosen at random from the electoral roll who have been asked to give their opinions on the council, its services and staff.

The council say the idea of a Citizens Panel is becoming increasingly popular among local authorities as a cost-effective of "ensuring they are listening to people and responding to their needs".

While the council had no problems in filling its quota of residents for the panel they found youngsters - under the age of 25 - were under-represented in the first survey.

Members of the council's Housing and Social Service were given the findings of the report at their meeting last week.

Committee chairman Cllr Margaret Clarke said: "Young people are a very important section of the community, their views are absolutely vital. What steps are we taking to ensure we are getting the views of the children?"

Council director of Central Services, Des Grogan said Government criteria for establishing a Citizens Panel meant that recruitment had to be completely random.

"We cannot focus on specific groups,' he said. "But what we are trying to do with the young people is establish their own version of the Citizens Panel."

Council spokesman Liz Howarth told the BEN that plans were now underway to have the panel up and running after the school summer holiday.

"We have already done some test work with young people by going out onto the streets and asking them about issues that affect them," she said. "We are working closely with the Youth Service, the Children's Society and the Save The Children Fund to move these plans forward."

She added: "The take up for the Citizens Panel was low as far as young people were concerned but that is probably because it was a little dry for them.

"We are working with the schools and have produced publicity material about the young people's panel and we are looking at new ways of delivering it that will interest them, such as the internet."