BUSINESSMAN Duncan Bannatyne last night urged unemployed young people to go out and knock on doors in a bid to find work, rather than relying on internet job applications.

Speaking on the BBC's flagship political programme Question Time, which was filmed at Teesside High School in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, the Darlington-based entrepreneur said: "No-one knocks on my door and asks for a job anymore."

He was responding to a young audience member who said she had been unable to find work since leaving university, despite sending off hundreds of job applications online.

Mr Bannatyne's comments came during a discussion on David Cameron's proposals to introduce compulsory community work for people claiming unemployment benefits.

He said he agreed with the plan - but only for 18 to 21-year-olds.

Mr Bannatyne was joined on the panel by Conservative and former Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Michael Heseltine, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Shadow Energy Secretary, Caroline Flint and Liberal Democrat minister Norman Lamb.

The debate covered a wide range of subjects, from the cost and location of the UK's nuclear deterrent, to the crisis in Ukraine, to the likelihood of a Labour minority government after the General Election.

Mr Bannatyne said if Scotland did not want to host the country's nuclear deterrent "we will have them here in the North-East" and said the country should have "more troops on the ground" in the face of Russian aggression.

"Russia is a real threat," he said. "If Putin controls Russia and Ukraine he will then start on the Baltics."

Audience member Emily Young asked the panel if Geordie television presenters Ant and Dec articulated what other people are thinking when they said although they are Labour supporters, they cannot see Ed Miliband as Prime Minister.

To much laughter, Lord Heseltine admitted he did not know who the pair are, but added: "I can help these people Ant and Dec. I can give you an absolutely straight answer - bash the oil companies, renationalise the railways and tax everybody who has got a big house.

"It's called 50 Shades of Red - a blockbuster from Ed Miliband."