PUPILS put questions to a panel of Comet country figures in a Question Time style debate at a school.

Princess Helena College in Preston invited people from councils, businesses and charities, so pupils could quiz them.

Topics ranged from bedroom tax and Mali to the voting age and the value of EU.

County councillor Nigel Brook, Ed Venner from Legg Mason Investment Fund Management, leader of Stevenage Borough Council Sharon Taylor, Sue Ryder’s Tracy Smith and managing director at Foreign Exchange Trading Products Derek Shewring were on the panel, while Dr James Bentall, bursar of the school, chaired.

Year 11 pupil Emily Guthrie said: “It was very interesting to hear viewpoints from others and I was able to widen my own opinions.”

And head of sixth form Lynden Astill, who organised the event, added: “It was really inspiring and has definitely fired up the students’ political discussions.”