Young people across the district will have a DIY election for their history-making parliament, it was announced today.

They will deal with the entire process from start to finish on polling day and one of them will take the top supervisory role of returning officer.

Training will start on Monday to teach the young people how to run polling stations, count votes and work out the results at the end of election day on September 24.

Today different training sessions came to an end for more than 100 potential MYPs, who were being briefed about the role. Now wide-spread publicity will begin about Britain's biggest youth parliament.

The Council's youth service co-ordinator, Norrina Rashid, said posters would go on bus shelters and the sides of buses and thousands of leaflets would be sent out giving details of all candidates. Young people will also be promoting the election at all 15 entrances to Myrtle Park on September 1, when Pop Idol Gareth Gates and other stars perform.

Miss Rashid said there would be 35 polling stations across the district - 15 in schools - and details would go on a website. Counts would be held in the district's five parliamentary constituencies, mirroring the systems for local and general elections.

She said about 1,000 young people were interested in taking part in the process, which would lead to a parliament with a real voice in local and national affairs.

But she said it was vital for young people to vote and the candidates would be holding high profile campaigns until the elections in five weeks' time. The parliament is likely to meet each month, possibly in City Hall, but members will also hold surgeries with constituents.