Primary school children are being encouraged to take part in politics in Michael.

The district’s local authority has introduced a ’young commissioner’ scheme.

Under that children and young people from the area can get involved with local politics and decision making, regarding local issues for Michael Commissioners to consider.

The Young Commissioners meet once per school half term and the meeting is overseen by the Michael Commissioners chairman Michael Neary, vice-chairman Carole Melaugh, commissioner Kerry Best and the clerk to the commissioners.

The Young Commissioners are made up of pupils aged seven to 11 from Michael Primary School.

They have a chairman, Harry James, aged 11, and clerk Molly Duckworth, who’s also 11.

The other young commissioners are Callum Clague, Amy Corkill, Hannah Wilson, Olivier Howard, Francesca Loader and Joe Newburn.

They follow an agenda in their meetings, so that the structure mirrors an actual commissioners meeting and their views are then fed back to the board of Michael Commissioners.

The young commissioners will have an input into the recreational areas of Kirk Michael and have already raised issues concerning dog poo while they are playing out with their friends.

A spokesman for the authority said: ’This is a first for the Isle of Man and Michael Commissioners hope that other local authorities may use our idea to help encourage more young people to have an interest in politics and what happens in their local area.’Michael Commissioners’ vice chairman Carole Melaugh founded the scheme.

She said: ’It is important that young people today feel included in their village life and future planning.

’It was very obvious to me that Michael villagers are not engaged in the democratic process and I hope this scheme will help these young people to enjoy helping to make decisions about their environment and encourage others to do the same.’