Chairman Peter Norman, third left, with candidates from left, Philip Dunne, Conservative. Jacqui Morrish, Green, Heather Kidd, Liberal Democrat, Anthony Hunt, Labour and Christopher Gill, Ukip.

About 200 people packed into a Shropshire school hall for a hustings meeting as five of the six candidates standing in the Ludlow constituency faced voters wanting to hear their views on a wide range of issues, ranging from asylum seekers to renewable energy.

Last night’s meeting was in Ludlow School and only one of the six candidates, the British National Party’s Christina Evans, was unable to make it, giving her apologies due to illness.

They faced a range of questions on environmental and ethical issues, including whether they agreed climate change was man-made, how they would deal with it if elected and how they would provide energy security for the UK.

They also answered questions on how they would promote sustainable agriculture, what their views were on the freedom of religious expression and how the UK should deal with asylum seekers.

Christopher Gill, the candidate for UKIP, received the loudest heckle of the night when he said that a lot of people coming to the UK were benefit scroungers.

Nuclear

On freedom of religious expression, Philip Dunne defended his colleague Chris Grayling who had previously made comments suggesting bed and breakfast owners should be permitted to bar homosexual guests on religious grounds.

The issue of energy provision was a recurrent theme.

Mr Gill said his party would replace many power stations with nuclear power stations and Anthony Hunt, for Labour, said that nuclear power would have to form part of a mix of energy sources, at least in the short term, but that more should be done to explore renewable alternatives.

Heather Kidd for the Liberal Democrats said it was too late to rely on nuclear power and there needed to be more development of renewable resources.

Jacqui Morrish for the Green Party said they did not support nuclear power and that people would need to be more responsible in their use of energy.

Philip Dunne said the Conservatives saw nuclear power as a carbon-free solution and that they would look at developing hydro power.

There was mixed reaction from residents following the meeting.

Michael Haines, from Ludlow, said: “Something like this is valuable because I wouldn’t otherwise hear what candidates like the Greens stand for because they don’t have the manpower to go around dishing out leaflets, so I think it’s a very good idea.”

Resident Margaret Jones said: “I’m a little concerned about what they were saying about nuclear power.

“In the 80s they abandoned it all because of the waste and the safety risk so that was a bit disconcerting.”

Val Ridges said: “I thought it was very interesting.

“I was glad to hear everybody’s opinions.

“The Labour candidate was young but made a good impression, Christopher Gill was Christopher Gill, the Green candidate seemed out of her depth, Heather Kidd impressed me more than she did when I saw her on TV recently and I think Philip Dunne did extremely well.

“It’s only confirmed what I thought already.”

Jon Halle said: “I think it was a great occasion. I was disappointed the BNP candidate didn’t turn up because I think they should be forced to stand up in public and say what they think.

“I was disappointed that none of the parties understand the magnitude of the changes we are facing over the next few years.

“The climate change issue was flagged up under Thatcher, we’ve had 30 years and they only just starting to work on it.”