大象传媒

With a by-election for the elected mayoralty of Bedford taking place on 15 October, students at Wootton Upper School took it upon themselves to organise a 大象传媒 Question Time style event with all the candidates.

Around 140 members of the public turned up on Wednesday night (7 October) to quiz them.

We spoke to each of them and asked them three questions including what they stood for, what they would change in Bedford if they became mayor and intriguingly - got them to divulge an interesting fact about themselves!

Click on the audio links to find out what they said.

The candidates are:

Parvez Akhtar

Parvez Akhtar - Conservative

Parvez Akhtar, 40, is a long standing Queens Park resident and works as an engineer for Ford.

He currently serves as the chairman of the Parish Council.

Apu Bagchi

Apu Bagchi - Independent

Apu Bagchi, 68, served as deputy to the former mayor, the late Frank Branston. He is a retired lecturer and has lived in Bedfordshire since 1970.

He became a borough councillor in 1990, representing Castle Ward and became Mayor of Bedford in 1996.

Tony Hare

Tony Hare - Independent

Tony Hare, 66, lives in the village of Elstow.

He is the former Tory group leader at Bedford Borough Council.

David Hodgson

David Hodgson - Liberal Democrat

Dave Hodgson, 50, has lived in Bedford since he was nine.

He is the leader of Liberal Democrat group on Bedford Borough Council and runs a secretarial services business.

Eve Robinson-Morley

Eve Robinson-Morley - Green

Eve Robinson-Morley, 29, is a working mother with two young children.

She grew up in Luton and after university moved to Bedford. In her free time she helps with the A:19 youth group and a parent and toddler group.

James Valentine

James Valentine - Labour

James Valentine is a former parliamentary and European Parliament candidate for the party and has lived in the borough since 1983.

He runs a small language translation business in Bedford.