Young people across Bradford are preparing for one the biggest political gatherings of their age group that the district has ever seen.

Members of the recently-elected Bradford and Keighley Youth Parliament will be taking their orders from more than 250 young people determined to have a say in the way the district is run.

The conference on Wednesday at Bradford University will see the electorate deciding the three issues they feel their representatives - the 30 MYPs - should be looking at over the next two years.

These views, from as wide a cross section of people as possible, will be factored into their weekly meetings in Keighley, Shipley and Bradford.

Morning brainstorming sessions on Wednesday will be followed by afternoon debates on the issues of concern such as education, bullying, drugs and recreation provision.

Mick Chandsoor, youth parliament worker, said MYPs will then have access Council officers, councillors and even voluntary sector workers: "Once we know what the three issues are the first thing MYPs will do is find out a lot more about them. They will pull in as many professionals as possible - anyone and everyone who is able to help them come up with solutions."

Organisers of the parliament hope that by focusing on the three issues that could be tackled within the Council's existing responsibilities, the parliament will improve on last year.

"There was a lot of work done in the last parliament," said Mick, "but MYPs did not always get to hear the voice of the young people."

Apart from the three issues to be decided at the conference, MYPs will also be expected to keep an eye on the work of Bradford's councillors and particularly the authority's forward plan - the document which sets out the major decisions and work to be completed at the authority over the next few months.

Mr Chandsoor said: "If one of the issues is bullying, and there is something dealing with that on the forward plan, they will make sure their ideas are fed into the Council's process. But also there may be other issues, such as regeneration, which they may feel they have something to say about and get involved in."

Councillor Dale Smith, the Council's executive member for education, said MYPs have already been asked by the executive to look at a particular document on bullying before a final decision is made on it.

"It is vital that young people attend this conference and have their voices heard, young people are among the best to give us sound, solid advice," he said.

Anyone aged 11 to 21 can attend the conference, which starts at 10am. They should register at www.bkyp.co.uk.