HALESOWEN'S new teenage councillor says he aims to show young people can have a voice and stand up for their communities.

Jake Cooper, aged 18, was one of the shock results of the Dudley Council election after taking the Belle Vale ward from his Labour namesake, Ian Cooper.

He won the ward despite juggling campaigning and studying for his A-levels at the same time.

Not that he is going to be the only teenager on the Conservative benches in Dudley Council, Joe Roberts, aged19, won Halesowen North from UKIP.

Jake is presently studying for three A-levels which he hopes will lead to a place at Birmingham University studying politics and international affairs in September.

He said: “I want to show that young people can offer a voice for their communities, to stand up for those communities.

“I was a member of the youth parliament in the borough, which I will now resign from because I am a councillor but I have a lot of experience from that.

“I’ve been out talking to local residents and I will now continue that and see what help I can give in helping them with their local problems.”

Normally young people going university take the opportunity to spread their wings and move away from home but Jake is staying local so he can keep his promise to the people of  Belle Vale.

He added: “Yes I will  be studying locally. I should be going to the University of Birmingham in September so I ensure I can stay in my seat in Belle Vale and that the people of Belle Vale have a voice in Dudley Council.”