DUDLEY'S political chiefs took the debate about council finances to the borough's young people at an event in Stourbridge.

The council's cabinet member for finance, Cllr Pete Lowe, and cabinet member for children's services, Cllr Tim Crumpton, faced questions from an audience of under 25s during a discussion chaired by Stourbridge News reporter Martyn Smith at Base Studios.

The event was organised by the Rufford Road studio complex in conjunction with the News Group, to give young people a chance have their say on the Labour-run authority's Big Consultation on a hike in council tax or cuts of up to £30m.

Visitors to the hour-long debate, on Friday January 25, included students from Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge College and King Edward VI College.

The discussion featured topics including cuts and council executives' pay, prospects for young people in Dudley borough and the future of funding for Stourbridge's What? Centre.

More video coverage from the debate will be added to this article in the next few days - please check again soon