RIPON MP Julian Smith met with student leaders and headteachers from secondary schools across his constituency at a special event.

The annual School Leaders’ Lunch has been hosted by Mr Smith for the last seven years and gives teachers and students the chance to put questions to their MP and to share expertise.

A dozen schools were represented at the lunch, held at the Red Lion in Burnsall and Mr Smith said: “It was, as ever, a pleasure to meet these wonderful students and teachers.

“It was great to be able to chat with them and answer their thoughtful questions.

“I was impressed to hear about their varied and exciting plans for the future.”

The questions put to Mr Smith ranged from affordable housing, to tuition fees and what can be done to improve infrastructure in the area.