Ben with three green councillors: from left Cllr Sharon Pavey is on Honiton Town Council, Ben Jones, Cllr Henry Gent is on Broadclyst Parish Council and Cllr Emily McIvor is on Axmouth Parish Council.

A former Exmouth Community College student is the new Young Greens co-ordinator for East Devon.

Ben Jones, 18, from Woodbury Salterton, is now doing a degree in education studies at University College Marjon in Plymouth but still lives at home in East Devon.

Ben says he is keen to engage more young people in politics and is planning to visit groups of students in the autumn to inspire them to sign up to vote in the next elections.

Ben said: “I joined the Green Party after the 2010 general election because I saw that the Greens were making a real case for themselves and offering a new and plausible way forward.”

East Devon Green Party co-ordinator Sharon Pavey said: “Ben joined us a few months ago and was very eager to do more to attract younger members so it was a natural progression for him to join our committee.

“Young Greens represent under-30s in the Green Party and are interested in issues like increased tuition fees, lack of jobs as a result of cuts and unfair changes to our welfare system.”

The East Devon Green Party’s website is online at www.eastdevon.greenparty.org.uk