Thousands of Norfolk's young people have voted in a record turn-out for the county's youth parliament elections - which put voting in the county council elections in the shade.

A total of 37,679 11 to 18 year-olds voted in the election - believed to be one the highest numbers in any election in the youth parliament's history.

And with 48.1pc of Norfolk's 11 to 18 year-olds casting their vote, that was a higher percentage turnout than the 32.1pc who voted in last year's county council elections.

Norfolk County Council introduced text voting in the youth parliament elections for the first time this year, in the hope it would increase the turn-out and make the voting process easier for the county's young people.

Voting took place last week in all nine constituencies – Broadland; Great Yarmouth; North Norfolk; North West Norfolk; Great Yarmouth; North Norfolk; Norwich North; Norwich South; South Norfolk and South West Norfolk.

The last Norfolk youth parliament elections, in 2012, saw 12,000 young people take to the ballot box.

The results will be announced at County Hall on Wednesday, when the county's nine new Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) will officially begin their two years in office.

James Joyce, cabinet member for safeguarding at Norfolk County Council, said: 'The turn-out for these elections has been beyond all expectation and shows Norfolk's young people are keen to be involved in the democratic process and have their voices heard.

'We expected text voting to increase the numbers getting involved but to have more than 37,000 is fantastic. All 30 of the candidates in these elections are remarkable young people.'