MOST of the audience were not even old enough to vote - but that did not stop a political debate at a North-East college from being the most nerve-wracking experience on the campaign trail for four candidates yesterday.

Students, aged between 16 and 18, were given the opportunity to grill Darlington's General Election candidates on issues from tuition fees to the war in Iraq.

The Question Time style event was held at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.

It was attended by Labour's Alan Milburn, Liberal Democrat candidate Robert Adamson, Conservative Anthony Frieze and David Davies, of Veritas.

The crowd mostly consisted of politics students, armed with a list of challenging questions. They included: why should voters trust your party; are we facing an immigration problem in the UK; and was the Iraq war Tony Blair's biggest error of political judgement?

Despite being used to being put on the spot, all four candidates admitted to being apprehensive.

Mr Freize said: "This was the one event I felt more nervous about than any other."

And Mr Davis agreed: "It is very intimidating to be faced with a crowd like that, because young people just say what they think and feel."

On being questioned about the Government leading the country into a war in Iraq, Mr Milburn said it was one of the most difficult decisions he had ever made. "It wasn't a decision that was taken lightly," he said. "But it is one I still stand by today.

"Saddam Hussein was an evil dictator and when our troops leave Iraq it should be democratic and peaceful - not just for Iraq, but for the good of the wider world."

When asked why voters should trust the Conservative party, Mr Frieze said: "When we have made mistakes in the past, we have admitted them and apologised for it.

"Trust and integrity form a very important part of this election."

It came as no surprise to the candidates that education was a priority for the audience - especially when it came to tuition fees.

Mr Adamson received a rapturous round of applause when he said it was the Liberal Democrats policy to abolish tuition and top-up fees.

He said: "Students shouldn't be charged to go to university, because they pay society back once they graduate and start high-skilled jobs."

Mr Davis said: "Although people who want to go to university should be given the opportunity to, not everyone has the desire or abilities. Steps should also be taken to encourage vocational courses in areas such as construction."

The event was organised by the college's director of studies, Mike Ellis.

He said: "The students asked sensible questions and raised some very good issues and the candidates responded well.

"It will have provided them - especially the first-time voters among them - with valuable information to help them make their decision."