Scores of Telford residents turned out to watch their parliamentary candidates go head-to-head in a hustings debate.

The four main party candidates were in the hot seat as they battled it out to win over the votes of churchgoers and residents throughout Dawley. Last night’s debate, held in St Leonard’s Church in Malinslee, saw the Labour candidate, David Wright, argue it out to retain his seat.

Also on the panel was Phillip Bennion, for the Liberal Democrats, Tom Biggins, for the Conservatives, and Denis Allen for UKIP. BNP candidate Phil Spencer was not invited.

Carol Stanley, from Dawley, asked if a candidate could represent an area if he did not live in it.

Mr Bennion said: “Because I don’t live in Shropshire does not mean I don’t understand the area.

“I know the Princess Royal Hospital and the hospital in Shrewsbury are having a tug-of-war, but the Lib Dems have proposed groups on the ground that would stop that happening.”

Mr Wright said: “I have not been parachuted into this seat and I think that’s quite important. I have a large family in this area and services are important.”

Also on the agenda was social housing. Alan Olver, who helped set up the Kip and Stay Project which helps the homeless, said there was in excess of 13,000 people on the waiting list.

Mr Biggins said: “We have been told there will be 26,500 built over the next 15 years but you need the jobs to go with these properties, which is what I’m concerned about. If you get it out of balance you have serious problems.”

By Jason Lavan