AN award-winning secondary school pupil has been chosen to become a new ‘member of parliament’.

Ormiston Rivers Academy student Tyler May is now one of seven Essex members elected to the UK Youth Parliament.

Their term of office starts this year and finishes in 2021.

Tyler will represent Maldon.

She has been recognised for her work in the community, winning the Young Persons Award at Burnham Town Council’s civic reception and being highly commended for the Inspirational Youth category of the Pride of Essex Awards.

She is a member of the Young Essex Assembly, vice chairperson of the Maldon Youth Strategy Group, and also attends all the monthly meetings of the Mid-Essex Young Commissioners.

Ormiston Head Joan Costello described the achievement as “excellent”.

Mrs Costello said: “She’s a wonderful child and inspiring too.

“She makes such a difference to the school and the wider community.

“She is determined and poised and I’m sure she will do amazingly. I work with her closely and I can see she is learning a lot.

“We wish her all the very best, it is a well-deserved success.”

More than 17,000 young people voted in the 2018 Young Essex Assembly elections across the county.

In the end, 24 out of the 75 members of YEA stood as candidates for the UKYP elections, and seven were then chosen to represent the county at national level.

UKYP aims to give young people in the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice which will be heard and listened to by local, regional and national government.

Members will sit in the House of Commons for the 11th year in November for an annual debate.