CONSULTATION is set to begin for a new youth club in Malmesbury and Wiltshire County Council is appealing for young people to get involved.

The process is planned to begin in the autumn and will use the latest state-of-the-art technology to canvass votes.

Prizes such as an aeroplane flight will help inspire youngsters to take part.

Malmesbury County Councillor John Thomson said: "We are doing something wrong when children choose to sit on a cold bench in a dark alley in Malmesbury. The Cartmell Centre was never built as a youth centre and is very dilapidated. Over 20 years there are considerable savings to be made from a new building."

Coun Thomson said he wanted to keep the process as open as possible but one option could be to move the centre from its current site at Tetbury Hill to land in front of the new primary school or at Filands.

Funding could be secured from the sale of the land or from county council coffers. He said: "I do not want to pre set the agenda. I want to hear what the young would like and give them a chance to air their ideas."

Anyone interested in being involved should call Coun Thomson on (01666) 840785 or Julie Martin at the county council on (01225) 713168.