[RESOLVED] Null Exception Error Using connection string in app.config

[experience]

I've moved my Database connection string into my app.config - however its causing a null exception error when i use it

App.Config

<connectionStrings>
      <add name="MyData" connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.Oledb.4.0;Data Source=MyData.mdb;Jet OLEDB:Database Password=123456789"
    providerName="System.Data.OleDb" />
    </connectionStrings>

I am trying to connect to it using

Dim con6 As New OleDbConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("MyData").ConnectionString)

But that crashes with a null exception error in the JIT debugger "object reference not set to an instance of an object"

However if i move the connection string to a global module class called "Strings"

'db connection
    Friend DBConnectstrings = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.Oledb.4.0;Data Source=MyData.mdb;Jet OLEDB:Database Password=123456789"

and call it using

Dim con6 As New OleDbConnection(Strings.DBConnectstrings)

It works fine

I've added the reference systems.configuration to my application
And i've added 'imports system.configuration'

Any idea what i'm doing wrong?