THERE was standing room only at the Ledbury Hustings last week.

Residents of Ledbury and surrounding villages, who arrived late to the Community Hall last Friday, found every seat taken, and had to stand through two hours of intense questioning of the candidates.

Event spokesperson, Gillian Chowns of Christians Together in Ledbury said: “After opening addresses from each of the candidates, with the Labour agent reading out the statement of Joe Wood, who unfortunately was unable to attend through illness, the other three candidates responded in turn to a wide range of questions which had been submitted in advance.

“Brexit, housing, trade and climate not only highlighted differences in Conservative, Green and Lib Dem policies, but also provoked some lively participation from the audience of around 150.”

She added: “Bill Wiggin, the Conservative North Herefordshire MP for the last 16 years, Philip Howells, Liberal Democrat, who is currently Mayor of Ledbury, and Ellie Chowns, West Midlands Green Party MEP, all frequently failed to keep to their allotted two minute response times, but were firmly kept in order by Ian Beer, who chaired the meeting with both humour and authority.”

The hustings event in Ledbury is by now a local tradition, close to election time.

Last Friday was the third time in under five years in which Christians Together in Ledbury arranged the hustings “as part of the church’s contribution to the democratic process.”

Organisers were delighted with both the turnout and the number of questions submitted.

Mrs Chowns added: “Feedback from those attending was very positive and we hope it has enabled people to be better informed as they consider how to vote on December 12.”