IT WAS celebrations all round in the Liberal Democrat camp, as their candidate took the York seat by just six per cent of the votes in a nail-biting contest.

Bucking the national trend, 82 per cent of voters turned out, giving the lie to all the talk of voter apathy.

This was, of course, not the General Election, but a mock poll held at York's Canon Lee School, where 15-year-old Tamsin Winstanley brought glory for the Lib Dems, with 38 per cent of the votes.

Labour candidate Thomas Tyler, 14, was just behind with 32 per cent, the Green Party's Katy Hirst, 14, third with 19 per cent, and a miserable election was capped for the Conservatives, with their Canon Lee candidate Jamie Cudine, 14, polling 11 per cent.

Held on the day of the real General Election, there was an impressive 82 per cent turnout, with 524 pupils voting out of 640 people in the Year Seven to Year Ten group.

Said victorious Tamsin: "I was really happy about the result and I thought that all parties had really good policies. But I believe that the students made the right choice."

Thomas, for Labour, said: "I knew that it was going to be a close-run thing because quite a lot of the pupils' parents probably vote either Labour or Liberal Democrat."

The Greens' Katy said: "I was very pleased with the result and I'm pleased that Tamsin won."

Jamie, for the Conservatives, said: "Overall, the campaign was great and, at the end of the day, the best person won."

Canon Lee head teacher Kevin Deadman said: "I am delighted with the extremely positive way in which our students became fully involved in our election.

"The candidates have been superb, offering a clear and enthusiastic view of their parties' opinions.

"The student voters have been able to make their choice based on careful consideration and considerable debate.

"I am sure that our election will lead to a future electorate who are fully involved in the democratic process as active citizens."

Updated: 10:29 Saturday, June 09, 2001