HUNDREDS of people packed Blandford Forum Parish Church on Monday to hear the parliamentary candidates campaigning to win the North Dorset seat.

Topics from funding the Blandford Leisure Centre to methods of tackling climate change after two failed wind farm applications in North Dorset featured in the wide-ranging debate, chaired by Rev Tim Storey.

"Tonight is about the people of Blandford. I have been able to vote in every election since 1979 and I have not found any as interesting as this one," said Rev Storey.

He asked candidates if constituents should vote to elect their local candidate, or the national government.

Green Party candidate Anna Hayball challenged the presumption that the seat was a "two-horse race" between Conservative, Robert Walter, and Liberal Democrat, Emily Gasson.

"The point is to use your vote wisely. We are not often asked for our opinion in national politics. People should really, truly look at the policies and vote for someone who represents them," said Ms Hayball.

Blandford School's student counsellor Ken Reynolds asked candidates how they would protect funding for local services after his own post was threatened by a funding crisis earlier in the year.

Labour candidate Mike Bunney, a teacher at the Blandford School, said targeting resources at frontline services rather than "funding consultants" would ensure posts like Mr Reynolds' were not jeopardised.

Constituent Barry Torrance asked candidates how they would be guided on a free vote in the House of Commons.

Conservative candidate Robert Walter said he had considered his Christian beliefs and constituents' views while serving on the cross-party House of Commons committee to draft the Children and Adoption Act.

He said he had not voted with his party when he opposed adoption rights for gay couples, and did not support "abortion on demand".

Voter Keith Yarwood asked for the panellists' view on Conservative Party proposals to allow voluntary groups to run schools.

Liberal Democrat candidate Emily Gasson said her board of school governors had found it very difficult to recruit volunteers, and questioned the validity of the debate on school choice for people living in rural areas.

"If you live in Blandford, your choice is the Blandford School. If you live in Verwood, there is no secondary school at all. Parents simply want their children's school to be the best school," she said.

Resident Nicola Fidgin asked the candidates to commit to reduced carbon emissions.

UKIP candidate Jeremy Nieboer, said that while reduced dependence on fossil fuels was sensible, the scientific arguments for man-made climate change had not been proved.

"There is no correlation between an increase in carbon dioxide and an increase in temperature, of which there is no evidence," said Mr Nieboer.

Voters said they had been impressed by the standard of the debate and now considered the race for the seat to be wide open.

Retired Ian Taylor said: "I'm delighted to find the race is far more open than usual. I was tempted towards tactical voting but I'm relieved to find my preferred candidate has a much better chance than I thought."

Librarian Heather Bignold said: "It was very interesting, and a fantastic opportunity to hear all the candidates' views. I thought the Green Party candidate spoke very clearly and without too much waffle."

Teacher Hugo Mievelle said: "It's a very open election. I thought all the candidates spoke very clearly and honestly. The part of the debate on the role of the church was especially interesting."

Votes in North Dorset will be counted at the Blandford Leisure Centre on the night of Thursday May 6.