YOUNG people are being urged to become champions of the Jurassic Coast by entering a national competition.

Unesco is running the competition to find young ambassadors of its world heritage sites.

Coun Robert Gould, who is the cabinet member for environmental services, said: “This is a great way for young people in Dorset to find out more about the World Heritage Site and discover why it’s so special.

“The winners will get a fantastic opportunity to be ambassadors for the Jurassic Coast and represent young people from Dorset at the conference in London.”

The Jurassic Coast, which was made England’s only natural World Heritage Site in 2001, covers 95 miles of coastline from Exmouth, in Devon, to Old Harry Rocks, in Dorset.

Anyone aged 13 to 17 on June 27 can enter the competition.

All they need to do is form a group of up to five like-minded people to represent their school and the Jurassic Coast at this year’s UK World Heritage Youth Summit, taking place in London in June.

Participants will need to create a digital scrapbook of material about the Jurassic Coast, based on the topic of world heritage and identity, and answering the question: ‘Who are we and what does our World Heritage Site mean to us?’ The digital scrapbook could take the format of a:

• presentation

• website or blog

• social networking presence

• Flickr page.

It can contain:

• photographs

• blog entries

• creative writing

• podcasts

• films

• music

Andy Saunders, a spokes-man for First Great Western, which is providing free transport for the winners, said: “First Great Western is proud of the many iconic locations across our network, including the stunning Jurassic Coast. I’m delighted we can support the winners of this competition with travel to London so they can celebrate the World Heritage Site and represent their region.” The deadline for entries is Friday, March 30.

Submissions should be sent to MSOS competition, Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, Dorset County Council, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ or emailed to a.potter@dorsetcc.gov.uk For details visit jurassiccoast.com /makingsense

THE FACTS

The Dorset and east Devon coast, popularly known as the Jurassic Coast, was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2001, based on its spectacular geology.

The layers of rock exposed along the 95 miles of coast between Exmouth in east Devon and Studland in Dorset record 185million years of earth’s history through the triassic, jurassic and cretaceous periods. The rocks exposed in the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast are gently tilted to the east, meaning the oldest are exposed in the west and as you travel east from Exmouth the layers of rock get progressively younger and younger.

This gives a ‘walk through time’ that is seen nowhere else in the world. For details visit www.jurassiccoast.com