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Youngsters are being given the chance to tell Town Teams exactly what they think of their towns - and how they should be transformed.

Young people - dubbed the iPod generation - will use cutting-edge technology such as podcasts, web blogging, internet forums and texting to give their opinions and thoughts on places in parts of Yorkshire and Humber.

Their views will help draft a new vision for their communities - and help push through improvements.

The iTown/myTown project, part of Yorkshire Forward's huge Partnership Skills Programme, has been launched to give young people - often excluded from such consultations - a much-needed voice on the future of where they live.

The hi-tech project is being run by the MBED Partnership, which was set up by the Creative Industries Development Agency (CIDA) in Huddersfield and Public Arts, in Wakefield to aid the delivery of the Yorkshire Forward Partnership Skills Programme, helping Town Teams to deliver their ambitious plans for the future.

And teenagers, in particular, have been chosen because they are the generation who will live with the results.

The first four towns to be involved in the project are Boroughbridge and Bedale in North Yorkshire, Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire and Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire - all declared Renaissance Towns, and therefore ripe for transformation, by Yorkshire Forward.

Huddersfield-based artiMEDIA is carrying out the technical-side of the project on MBED's behalf.

Brian Cross of artiMEDIA said: "We wanted to reach out to the young people who will eventually be the people who will live with these visions for the future.

"It would be very difficult to engage youngsters in the usual consultations, such as displays or likewise at a Town Hall. But we have found them keen to get involved, particularly by using the latest technology.

"Their input in to the future of Renaissance Towns is absolutely vital. Everything they have to tell us will be considered in the final plans for each area."

Youngsters in Boroughbridge have already begun their iTown/myTown project and work is soon due to start in Scunthorpe.

During each stage of the initiative, teenagers will take part in five workshops and will get to say exactly what they like or dislike about their areas.

They will also come up with their own visions for the future and use film and still photography to illustrate them.

They will record podcasts and special internet forums and web blogs will be set up to encourage them to debate the issues involved.

Mr Cross said: "We have been very encouraged by the response so far. It is clear teenagers have very strong and clear ideas about their town and how it should be developed.

"Using new media has really struck a cord with them, too. The iPod generation interact with technology in ways that many of us find hard to understand - texting MSM, blogging, file sharing, podcasting are all in the mix.

"Through this project we have tried to capture that buzz."

Jo Wilkinson of CIDA, MBED said: "By using technology, we're hoping to grab and tap into the imagination of young people in our region.

"We know they have a lot to say and iTown/myTown will help them express themselves in a relevant and creative way."

Barra MacRuairi, Head of Renaissance Towns and Cities at Yorkshire Forward said: “The ultimate aim of Renaissance is to allow for a re-engagement of people with their towns.

“People have become detached; and we will use any medium which is appropriate as a trigger to develop a mass participation by people in the future of their town. iTowns is a great and fun way to capture the minds of our future leaders.”

The media are invited to attend one of the sessions and photographs are available. For more information contact Ian Waugh on 07855 723305 or 0114 225 7080 or ian