REDDITCH'S MP hopefuls were put through their paces as part of a special hustings event, filmed by the BBC.

The town's seven party political candidates battling it out to win the hotly contested Redditch seat in the General Election recently visited Saint Augustine's Catholic High School to attend a question time style debate.

Students from all year groups pitched a wealth of questions to candidates covering local and national issues ranging from university fees to privatisation of the rail network.

The seven candidates introduced themselves and their party’s policies and values, prior to the floor questions.

Each candidate was then given the opportunity to answer each question posed by students for a duration of just one minute.

Questions included the two or three tier education system, NHS funding, and even out-going MP Karen Lumley’s legacy.

Saint Augustine's executive principal Anthony Quinn, presenter for the afternoon, said that he was very proud of his politically aware students who asked intelligent and probing questions in a most eloquent manner to the panel.

The event was filmed by the BBC and it is hoped that excerpts will feature on the Sunday Politics show.

The Redditch candidates for the General Election, on June 8, are former Redditch councillor Labour's Rebecca Blake, who stood for MP against Karen Lumley in the 2015 General Election, UKIP candidate Paul Swansborough, Conservative Rachel Maclean, Redditch Green Party campaigner Kevin White, Liberal Democrat candidate Susan Juned, health campaigner Neal Stote for The National Health Action Party, and independent candidate Sally Woodhall.