Copeland's seven parliamentary candidates were grilled by the public at a hustings in Millom.

It was the fourth event at which the community could tackle the would-be MPs about the biggest issues facing the constituency.

Hotly debated topics during the by-election campaign have included infrastructure, nuclear, health services and education.

The proposed removal of 24-hour consultant-led maternity care for the West Cumberland Hospital, and the potential for women in labour to travel 40 miles to give birth, has been a key concern.

The campaign has also coincided with the news that the planned nuclear plant at Moorside could be under threat.

All seven candidates put their views across at last night’s hustings, attended by around 150 people at the Beggar's Theatre.

Subjects raised included the plans by the National Grid to erect pylons to connect Moorside. Candidates were asked if they responded to the consultation and how they responded.

Independents Michael Guest and Roy Ivinson and Ukip's Fiona Mills said they had not responded individually, although Mr Guest said Copeland Borough Council, of which he was a part, had been asked to respond.

Miss Mills said she had met with group Power Without Pylons

Jack Lenox (Green Party) said his party had responded and Gillian Troughton (Labour) said she had been involved in the consultation response from Copeland council and the county council.

Rebecca Hanson, for the Liberal Democrats, said she had not personally responded but if she became MP, she would support people to "become more expert than the experts" and help them put together a case against pylons.

The Conservative Party's Trudy Harrison said she had responded personally and was against plans for pylons. She has campaigned with Power Without Pylons. She said: "It is not a legacy I want for our children."

All candidates agreed that undersea cabling was the best option, although Mr Lenox said his party was against Moorside as a whole so that would be the best option for him.

They were asked about the A595 by a campaigner who wondered why, after four years of campaigning, nothing had been done to improve the main road and asked the candidates what they would do.

The seven said they would take the case to Westminster and fight for better infrastructure.

They were also asked about prisons and the Government announcement that prison officers in the south of the England would be given £5,000 more to work.

All agreed that more money was needed to improve ageing prisons, like the local Haverigg jail and more needed to be done to support prison workers.

Mr Ivison asked if prison was always the best option for some crimes and

Miss Mills suggested sending foreign criminals back to their countries to serve out their sentence would help save the prison system money, although she admitted that it was not a popular idea.

Voters in the Copeland by-election will go to the polls on Thursday.

The candidates are: Rebecca Hanson, 44, Liberal Democrats; Trudy Harrison, 40, Conservatives; Michael Guest, 72, Independent; Roy Ivinson, 62, Independent; Jack Lenox, 29, Green; Fiona Mills, 47, UKIP; and Gillian Troughton, 52, Labour.