ELECTION candidates will go head-to-head for the student vote at a college's Question Time-style event.

Parliamentary candidates for the Barrow and Furness seat have been invited to a hustings at the Barrow Sixth Form College, the Rating Lane campus of Furness College, on Thursday. They will face questions from an audience of around 150 students.

The event will be chaired by A-Level government and politics student Corey Birkett with Alex Walker acting as chief timer to keep the candidates’ speeches to a strict two minutes.

Government and politics tutor Caroline Buckley said themes may include tuition fees, student finance, Trident and education policy.

Mrs Buckley said: “Many of our students will be voting for the first time and they are keen to hear first-hand from the candidates about their policies. I think it will also be interesting for the candidates to find out what the real hot topics are among the new voters.

“Last time it was a fascinating exchange and we are expecting a lively debate again, particularly as the students were not expecting to have the chance to vote in a General Election for another few years.”

Students who cannot attend will be able to submit their questions to the @b6fc Twitter feed so they don’t miss out. Following the hustings , the students will be able to go to the information point and vote for their candidate in an original ballot box owned by the politics department.

Tutor Paul Henzel, who will be the residing officer, said: “On the Thursday and Friday the students can come to the information point, show their ID card and will be given a ballot paper to cast their vote.

“This will also given them a glimpse of the voting process – we are hoping for a good turnout.”

The candidates are Loraine Birchall (Liberal Democrat), Simon Fell (Conservative), Rob O'Hara (Green Party), Alan Piper (UKIP) and John Woodcock (Labour and Co-operative).