BRIDGWATER mayor Diogo Rodrigues has spoken of his surprise at learning children in local schools feel they are lacking enough stationery and equipment.

The issue came to light when the newly-formed Bridgwater Youth Council, comprising of 10 young people, were tasked with canvassing their fellow pupils as to what they wanted to spend a £500 grant on.

The Youth Council and its chairman Cllr Rodrigues said they were surprised when the results came back and 'More equipment/stationery' was the top choice.

The Youth Council decided in wake of the survey results to contact the area MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger, asking what the government plans to do to improve the situation for schools and young people.

Cllr Rodrigues said: "It is one thing reading the papers and hearing in the news that schools are challenged with basics such as stationary, but its another thing when it hits home.

"I wasn’t expecting to be in a room of young people where all came back saying that they needed more basic stationery and equipment to support their learning.

"Young people themselves recognise that there is this issue within their schools which tells us that they are a lot more clued up with current political realities than many may otherwise give them credit for.”

The Youth Council was an initiative set up by Cllr Rodrigues to give young people in Bridgwater a loud and clear voice on issues relating to the Town, to give a younger perspective on the future development of the Town and to decide how best to support youth services in Bridgwater.

Mr Liddell-Grainger wrote a letter of response to The Youth Council, saying that while he was always happy to make representations to government ministers on behalf of his constituents, he had no representations from headteachers in local schools about this sort of shortage.

Mr Liddell-Grainger wrote:"As you will appreciate, when making representations to Government it is always best to be fully armed with the facts and to have as much ammunition as possible.

"In the first instance, I want to write to my local headteachers to directly seek their comments on any shortages they have and would be grateful if you could confirm that all four of our secondary schools and Bridgwater College were canvassed."

Mr Liddell-Grainger has also asked for further information on the type of canvassing that took place and how many individuals took part.