Youngsters wearing animal masks and black hoodies handed out postcards outside Sutton station in south London explaining why people should vote.

Musician Patrick Walden, who was handed one of the leaflets, said: "I'd say only 30% to 40% of my friends have bothered to register themselves to vote. It's really good to see young people taking the initiative and trying to show others that politics does matter."

A-level student Anne Attipoe, 18, said they wanted people to stop and think.

She said: "We're not telling people who they should vote for, we're simply trying to show them why they should vote."

Electoral Commission figures show 22% of students are not registered to vote and only 37% of 18- to 24-year-olds voted in 2005.