SIXTH form students from Bolton gave politicians a grilling on a Question Time-style debate.

As election fever hots up, the next generation of voters were given a chance to quiz some of the key players in the region's election battled about issues important to them in the ITV Granada Reports School Debate, which is being screened tonight.

Young people questioned them on issues including the NHS, immigration and tuition fees yesterday — and the debate will be screened tonight.

Students from Rivington and Blackrod Sixth Form joined dozens of students from Manchester's Xaverian College and Loreto College and Maghull High School in Merseyside.

Panel members included Labour MP Lisa Nandy, Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim, UKIP parliamentary candidate John Bickley and Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Mike Storey.

The debate held at the People's History Museum in Manchester was chaired by ITV Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock.

She said: "It was brilliant to see how bright and challenging these teenagers are. Our politicians did a great job too.

"I think they all learnt from each other. All in all a really successful and ground-breaking piece of television."

Head of Rivington and Blackrod Sixth Form Paul Canning said: "This debate gives the students an opportunity to talk about economics and politics and will bring to life the debates that are happening within the classroom.”

The ITV School Debate was the finale of a series of events organised by ITV Granada Reports to encourage students to take a more active role in their communities and become more politically aware for the future.

For more information about the ITV School Debate go here.