JesmondLocal hosts its annual hustings event this evening (April 29th), giving residents the chance to quiz the candidates for North and South Jesmond’s council elections.

The hustings, an opportunity for debate among the candidates, and chaired by JesmondLocal journalists, is being held at Jesmond Library.

A pre-debate discussion starting at 7:15pm, involving Tony Waterston of the Jesmond Residents Association, Newcastle Royal Grammar School’s headmaster Bernard Trafford, and others, will be chaired by JesmondLocal politics reporter Claire Hawthorn.

At 7:45pm candidates for North and South Jesmond will take to the floor, quizzed by editor-in-chief Ian Wylie and editor Chris Stokel-Walker. Members of the audience will be encouraged to pose questions to the candidates about what is important to them.

JesmondLocal‘s band of volunteer reporters will be following every moment of action, live blogging at JesmondLocal.com, tweeting @JesmondLocal and posting regular updates to Facebook and Instagram, so that local people who can’t make it in person can follow the hustings from home, and participate by asking their questions online.

A report on the night’s events will be posted on JesmondLocal.com shortly after the hustings ends, and video recaps of the key moments will be available to view before polls open on May 7th.

If you can’t make it along to Jesmond Library this evening, click below to follow our live blog of the event.