MO MOWLAM and Charles Kennedy have praised a schoolgirl's efforts to lower the voting age to 16.

Estella Whitmore, 15, a pupil at Settlebeck High School, Sedbergh, has collected almost 500 signatures on her petition.

Ultimately she hopes to gather 20,000 names before presenting the petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street, or the House of Commons, to secure "maximum publicity."

Keen Liberal Democrat supporter Estella, of Kirkby Lonsdale, mailed several MPs, asking them to support her campaign.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy wrote back: "I am grateful to you for writing to me on this issue.

Unfortunately I am unable to sign your petition as I make a point of not signing petitions outside of Parliament.

However, as you can see from the enclosed policy briefing, the Liberal Democrats are in favour of lowering the age of voting to 16."

He invited Estella to publish his letter, as support for her cause, and wished her "good luck" with the petition.

In her reply, Labour's Mo Mowlam, Cabinet Office Minister, said: "I was very interested to learn of your campaign and am greatly impressed by your commitment and professionalism."

Miss Mowlam said, as a Cabinet member, she was unable to endorse the petition.

However, at this year's Labour party conference at Brighton, the issue of lowering the voting age to 16 would be discussed.

"I am sure you are looking forward to the debate with interest as you collect more signatures!" wrote Mo Mowlam.

Nigel Jones, Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham, wrote: "I think it is wonderful that you are campaigning on this issue, and would like to do anything I can to help."

He added: "I will return the petition sheet to you when I have filled it up - maybe we will even manage to fill up a second."

Estella has been running the campaign with her friend, Kirsty Garnett, using her allowance to buy the stamps and stationery needed to mail all the secondary schools in Cumbria.

Estella said more young people were taking an interest in the campaign, which she hopes will inspire an MP to make a private members' bill next year.

"I reckon it might get through," she said.

"I believe this could happen, and that it will happen, because I've got to believe it."

Estella believes 16 and 17-year-olds should have the vote because those in full-time work have to pay taxes; they have good ideas about education; and they care about issues such as homelessness and the environment.