A TEENAGER is set to become Earby’s youngest ever councillor.

Nineteen-year-old Jessica Spence, of Rushton Avenue, Earby, will be co-opted on to Earby Town Council at its meeting tonight. She follows in the footsteps of her father Jim, already a town councillor.

Jessica, a former pupil at West Craven High Technology College, has impressed council chairman Coun Chris Tennant with her experience.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome Jessica and she already has an amazing track record. She was on the school council in her last year at school and tried hard to set up a youth council committee for the town council.”

That same year – 2010 – she received the town council’s Shaw Greening Award for her services to the community through her volunteer work. She was also a finalist for the 2010 High Sheriff of Lancashire’s Young Citizen Award. Two years ago, Jessica organised a charity shoebox appeal and has helped raise money at other council-supported events.

She has been the town’s standard bearer since 2010 and was on duty again at the Sough Park war memorial rededication service.

Jessica, who is doing a business administration apprenticeship at Principle Healthcare, Skipton, said: “I’ve wanted to do it for a while as I’ve been involved with working alongside the council for events.

“I just hope people will listen as the council needs younger people to do things. I also hope we’ll get younger people asking for things as there is not a lot for them around Earby.”

Coun Tennant added: “Coun Jim Spence has every right to be proud of his daughter.”