THEY'RE normally preoccupied with balancing budgets and strategic decisions - so why are Bournemouth councillors swotting up on the price of Big Macs and current chart positions?

Town hall chiefs have ventured out of the debating chamber and into schools and youth clubs in a bid to get more young people engaged in politics.

And as if that wasn't enough, they will also be competing against their colleagues in a quiz designed to stretch their street knowledge to the limits.

While teenagers will be able to call on the help of the council website to answer questions on council responsibilities and facilities, there's no such help for councillors as they attempt to answer questions about this season's fashion trends and concessionary bus fares.

A total of 174 young people and 13 councillors are taking part in the online quiz at www.offthe streets.co.uk/makeyourmark.

Councillors have also been giving talks at school citizenship lessons in a bid to improve awareness of local democracy.

Former youth worker and current Kinson South councillor Ted Taylor said: "At first you ask young people what they know about the council and they say 'nothing'. But then I relate it to their school council and soon they realise that, just like they elect their peers to represent them, I am representing people in the community.

"When you give them an opportunity to start thinking about the council, they soon start picking up on the issues that matter to them - like the lack of places for teenagers to go.

"Because they are under 18, a lot of youngsters feel excluded from the democratic process but events like this help to break down the barriers."

Bournemouth School for Girls pupil Antonia Metcalfe, 15, of Moordown, said: "It seems like a good idea because it would help councillors work out what matters to young people. Things might be better if they listened more."

First published: October 22