A General Election hustings saw all five Harwich and North Essex candidates go head to head with each other.

The event took place at Dedham Parish Church on Wednesday and was chaired by Rev Phillip Young, alongside Rev John Saxon.

About 80 members of the public attended the meeting, together with the five election candidates.

Rev Paul Greenland said: “The debate was conducted in a spirit of respectful debate, and five topics of interest on local and national matters were discussed.”

The candidates made opening and closing statements, with contributions from some of the public who attended.

Mr Greenland said: “The candidates have been assured that the prayers of the Harwich Deanery of Churches will be for whoever is elected as the MP for the Harwich and North Essex constituency, as they represent our communities.”

The husting took place a day after PACE Manningtree’s ‘Climate Special’ debate in Lawford, which saw all five candidates debate environmental issues.

The candidates for Harwich and North Essex are Andrew Canessa (Green), Mark Cole (Reform UK), Alex Diner (Lab), Bernard Jenkin (Con) and Natalie Sommers (Lib Dem).