A PROSPECTIVE councillor believes age is no barrier to representing the public.

Richard Booth, 18, is one of the youngest candidates standing in May for election, where he hopes to be chosen to represent the public on Wimborne Town Council and East Dorset District Council.

Wimborne resident Richard grew up in the town and has run the Wimborne-based film production company Final Cut Films since 2002.

He got interested in politics while at Canford School and first cut his teeth during the 2005 by-election in Bournemouth, when he helped to campaign for Nick King.

Last year he helped MP Bob Walter, as well as setting up and running Dorset Conservative Future, an organisation for 16- to 35-year-olds, where he is deputy chairman.

"I would like to think the political experience I have is equal to the political experience other candidates have," he said.

"My biggest priority is active representation. I do not think that the link between constituent and councillor is strong enough. It's hard to get in touch."

He said that if elected he would hold regular meetings so the public could express their concerns and problems and would promote his email and phone number. He already has a blog.

Richard has already started canvassing door to door, asking residents what issues affect them most.

He said the Waitrose proposal was a hot topic in the town, and a balance had to be struck between getting businesses to invest in Wimborne to ensure it thrives and keeping its green spaces.

Another issue that had been mentioned was antisocial behaviour.

"The police are more stretched. We need more funding for police.

"I'm a strong believer in more PCSOs for a visible deterrent.

"We need to operate a system of three strikes and you're out - you should be banned from an area," he said.

Richard's other key topics include encouraging young people to use their creativity, perhaps by offering them help to make their own film, to maintain a safe community atmosphere and to strengthen local transport links to Bournemouth Airport and Castlepoint.

Richard has created his own blog at http://richard4wimborne.blogspot.com.