Eastleigh'S young citizens are set to tell civic leaders and senior council officers exactly what they think about life in the borough.

Around 60 young people from secondary schools and colleges across the area will converge on the council chamber this Friday for the first ever Eastleigh youth conference.

The forum - dubbed In Touch - will feature a number of workshops covering topics which include: developing local facilities, transport, feeling safe, bullying, protecting the environment, health plus getting help and advice on a range of varying issues.

And it will also provide the young people with an opportunity to pose questions as well as having their say.

A council spokesman said: "One of the things we are constantly being told is that we don't listen to young people. This will be an opportunity to demonstrate that we are keen to hear what they have to say."

The initial idea came from Eastleigh MP David Chidgey and has been worked on by the borough council in partnership with Hampshire Youth Service.

The conference will be chaired by Eastleigh mayor Peter Humphreys and will be addressed by Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, Eastleigh Council leader Keith House and Hampshire county councillor responsible for youth work provision David Kirk.

County youth officer Malcolm Rittman and Anne Winstanley, Eastleigh Council executive member responsible for social policy, will also speak at the conference.

Mrs Winstanley told the Daily Echo that the council was delighted to be able to stage its first youth conference.

She said: "It provides a great opportunity for us to listen to the views, thoughts and ideas of young people from all parts of the borough.

"Studies show that young people are less likely than other age groups to take part in the democratic process by taking an interest in council matters or voting at election time.

"I very much hope that after the conference the young people attending will consider us relevant to their everyday lives and wish to participate regularly in the political process as well as at election time."