FOUR of York's parliamentary candidates spoke last Wednesday to almost two hundred girls at The Mount Senior School.

Labour's Rachel Maskell, Conservative candidate Robert McIlveen, the Green's Jonathon Tyler (Grn) and Liberal Democrat James Blanchard has been invited by the all-girl Quaker school.

Head girl Mary Fulford and deputy head girl Alexandra Carr questioned them on national and local issues, lowering the voting age, smoking and obesity, defence and the renewal of Trident.

Almost half the student group stayed after the event to ask more questions of the candidates, who were generous with their time and answered all questions with consideration and conviction.

Student Poppy Rodriguez said "I enjoyed watching them debate the points and how each politician approached the policies slightly differently. It also sparked my interest in local issues and how they affect us."