BATTLE will commence when election candidates are put on the spot at a hustings in Harwich later this month.

Residents have the chance to quiz their prospective parliamentary candidates by putting forward questions for the event at St Nicholas’ Church, Church Street, Harwich, on April 19 at 7.30pm.

The Harwich and Manningtree Standard has teamed up with the church, which is hosting the event in a bid to give people in the constituency a chance to hear the candidates speak on a variety of topics.

Entrance is free and the candidates will not be allowed to see the questions before the live event.

Going head to head are Conservative Bernard Jenkin, Labour’s Edward Carlsson-Browne, Liberal Democrat Dominic Graham and Ukip’s Mark Hughes.

The Rev Peter Mann, who came up with the idea to host the hustings, said: “We are organsing this as a service to the community to enable people to hear the candidates on neutral ground.

"All the candidates for the general election in the Harwich constituency will be speaking."

E-mail any questions to the church by April 12, at harwich peninsula@gmail.com