Candidates vying for votes across Canterbury clashed in front of voters and pupils for over an hour this week - but changed only a handful of minds.

It comes as Kent’s voters are set to go to the polls next Thursday (May 1) to elect the 81 members of Kent County Council (KCC).

The event at Canterbury Christ Church University’s (CCCU) Augustine Hall on April 23 attracted a crowd of about 100, many of whom were candidates and party activists, plus about 30 sixth-form pupils from local schools.

Representing the Liberal Democrats, their candidate for Canterbury North Cllr Alex Ricketts opened the debate, saying: “I think we are tremendously underserved in this area by KCC.”

“We’ve had 28 years of Conservative rule in Maidstone – some of you won’t be able to answer this, but do you think things have got better in that 28 years? I think they’ve been marked by a decrease in services and an increase in taxation.”

“Not all of that can be laid at the door of the leadership in Maidstone but a lot of it can, and I want to sort that out.”

Labour was represented by their current group leader at KCC, standing for re-election in Canterbury City North, Cllr Alister Brady.

“Everybody knows that KCC is a failing county council, we’ve got crumbling roads and cuts to services, and a Conservative administration that is out of ideas,” he told the room.

He stressed that for four years the Labour group at KCC have proposed “alternative budgets” to the Tories’ ones - which saw £72m of spending cuts to balance the books this year.

“This is a vote for either more of the same or for alternatives,” Cllr Brady added.

The Conservatives were represented by Cllr Dan Watkins - standing for re-election in Herne Bay East.

Having been part of the administration for four years, he defended the Tories’ record, arguing: “I think we’ve delivered a lot of very good council services.

“We have excellent schools here in Kent, our social services team help tens of thousands of people live better lives, and we’re cutting our carbon emissions.”

Cllr Dirk Ross, who is standing in Canterbury North, attended on behalf of Reform UK.

Until March Mr Ross was the Conservative county councillor for Ashford South, but he defected to Nigel Farage’s party.

He said the Tory group under Cllr Roger Gough is “Run like a North Korea-style administration.

“It’s just failure, excuses, you try to engage and you're blocked.

“KCC has a debt of £740m - £500 per resident, and you can see you're not getting the services, the respect, you're not being listened to.

“Things can be better and you should take a change and a chance.”

Green candidate for Canterbury South Henry Stanton argued: “I love Kent and I’m convinced that only we in the Green Party have the commitment, the energy and the intention to run the county.”

He lamented the “profound danger” of potholes on KCC’s roads, but said “what we don’t need is new roads.”

“Green Party councillors work harder and better, if you want green, vote Green.”

Candidates were quizzed on many issues - solar panels, housing, the recent Supreme Court ruling on transgender identity - which aren’t directly a county council responsibility.

After over an hour of debate, Dr Demetris Tillyris, who was chairing proceedings, asked the room if anyone had changed their mind about who they would vote for as a result of the proceedings.

Of the 130 or so people in the audience, only three hands were raised.

Polling stations across Kent will be open from 7am-10pm on Thursday May 1.