How the candidates answered your questions...

BLACKBURN'S NIGHTLIFE QUESTION: 'What will you do about the decline and plans of the night time economy in Blackburn, specifically the town centre' from Dean Simpson, member of Lancashire Telegraph 'undecided voter ' panel.

This was the issue that got most of the audience riled, as Mrs Hollern (Lab) failed to explain why the town centre's pub and club scene has all but 'died out' in recent years.

Mr Eastwood (Con) said her ruling Labour council had 'neglected' the town's nightlife through high rates and charges. He added: "It needs some leadership. I've sat down with business leaders and they feel they haven't been listened to by the council. I'll give you some sound leadership which Kate can't, because she hasn't."

Mrs Hollern said people could no longer afford to go out, and people were buying alcohol in supermarkets instead, but failed to explain why Burnley's nightlife was booming.

Amid a torrent of heckling and jeering, she insisted the 'building blocks are now in place' to revive the town centre and she was 'convinced it will come back'.

Mr Lishman (LD) said there should be a focus on creating a safe environment, especially for women, along with better transport, while Mr Taylor (UKIP) said there should be better promotion of Blackburn's venues.

DIVISION AND COHESION AMONG COMMUNITIES.

QUESTION: 'Some say we still have parallel societies in the town. Do you agree and what are your plans to improve cohesion?' from Awais Anwar owner of railway station kiosk.

Asked about 'parallel societies' in the town, Mr Eastwood (Con) said he would look to address the 'resentment' in some neighbourhoods, where residents felt other areas had been given preferential treatment. He said residents in Mill Hill, for example, were unhappy at the lack of flood lights for their play areas.

But Mrs Hollern (Lab) said Blackburn has been successful through celebrating diversity, and the council had worked hard to promote cohesion by providing community facilities such as the new leisure centre.

Mr Taylor (UKIP) said: "One of biggest mistakes we've made is to encourage multiculturalism. We should be encouraging people to integrate more, to make sure they learn the language."

Mr Lishman (LD) agreed that cohesion was needed, and called for people from all backgrounds to be treated on the same basis, and with the same respect. He was the only candidate who questioned the value of faith schools, saying: "I don't like the principle."

POLICE AND CRIME QUESTION: 'According to Lancashire Constabulary, government budget cuts have resulted in the loss of 700 front line police roles (out of 3,500) and 500 police support staff (out of 2,500). Does the panel think that this is an acceptable approach to public safety?' from Labour councillor Sylvia Liddle.

'The loss of 700 officers at Lancashire Constabulary presented a 'huge threat to public safety', said Mr Taylor (UKIP), and the government should divert cash from foreign aid and EU contributions to bolster services.

Mr Lishman (LD) said better crime prevention methods were needed, such as an increase in funding for mental health services, as promised by his party.

When Mr Eastwood (Con) suggested police forces should merge back office functions, rather than make front line cuts, he was attacked by Mrs Hollern (Lab). She pointed out the front line had already been slashed, adding: "Police are absolutely stretched to the limit.

"Last week a company was broken into and their safe was taken, and four days later the police turned up."

But Mr Eastwood refuted this claim and hit back: "You keep referring to policemen but there's also policewomen. Crime is on the way down so police are finding ways of doing more with less."

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: QUESTION: 'Given the cuts to public funding, both financially and in terms of resources, what assurances can you give that you will make a significant contribution to the reduction of cases of domestic violence and abuse in the borough, bearing in mind that the vulnerability of children and women are clearly cause for great concern?' from Shigufta Khan.

The fall-out from the previous question meant the responses on this issue were muddled and lacked substance, but all the candidates agreed it was a 'real concern and a serious issue'.

Mr Taylor (UKIP) suggested the number of councillors in Blackburn with Darwen could be slashed by a third, with the savings ploughed into protecting people from domestic violence.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: QUESTION: 'If you get elected what measures are you going to introduce to help disabled people in the borough with things like jobs and accessibility throughout the town?' from wheelchair user Henry Astill.

Mr Lishman (LD) said he had experience of working with big businesses to encourage them to employ and cater for disabled people, and it was important to tackle prejudice, rather than simply concentrating on access issues.

Mrs Hollern (Lab) agreed that helping and incentivising businesses was vital, while Mr Eastwood (Con) called for disabled people to be treated with dignity and respect. Mr Taylor (UKIP) suggested that tax receipts from fracking could be used to bolster support and new initiatives.

THE NHS IN EAST LANCASHIRE: QUESTION: 'The East Lancashire Hospitals Trust has emerged from special measures. What needs to be done to prevent it slipping back into crisis? Russ McLean, chair of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group.

Mrs Hollern (Lab) said East Lancashire's hospitals, recently out of special measures, have suffered from funding cuts and the coalition government 'wasting' £3 billion on an NHS reorganisation.

She said her party would give the health service another £2.5 billion per year and stop the health service being 'eroded' through the use of private companies.

But Mr Eastwood (Con) said the failure of the hospitals was down to poor leadership, while Blackburn had struggled to cope with extra emergency patients following the closure of Burnley's A&E unit.

He said he would fight for Burnley's emergency service to be reinstated, along with Blackburn's maternity ward, but even questioner Russ McLean, a patient representative and perhaps the most passionate defender of NHS services in the town, told him 'this would never happen'. Mr Eastwood was also heckled for failing to identify where the money would be found, only saying: "I'll be fighting for money to come to Blackburn as the economy improves."

Mr Taylor (UKIP) said privatisation should be reversed and his party had committed an extra £3 billion per year for the NHS, while Mr Lishman (LD) said his was the only party which has so far committed to filling the £8 billion funding gap which has been identified by NHS bosses. But he said there had also been issues with professionalism and poor practice, which were now being identified and dealt with.

IMMIGRATION AND THE EUROPEAN UNION : QUESTION: 'The importance for Britain to have an immediate "in / out " referendum on the European Union ' from Harvey Carter This was a difficult topic for Mrs Hollern (Lab), who struggled to explain why 'tougher border controls' would tackle excess immigration, given the laws of free movement within the EU.

But she said a referendum on EU membership was not a priority and would create uncertainty in the economy, and suggested a clampdown on firms using cheap European labour by enforcing the minimum wage, and banning immigrants from claiming benefits within two years of arrival.

Mr Eastwood (Con) pledged a renegotiation and referendum on Britain's membership of the union, while Mr Taylor (UKIP) pointed out that his was the only party that supported withdrawal from the EU.

Mr Lishman warned that Britain would become an 'irrelevance' if it left the union, and would still have to abide by most of the EU regulations in order to benefit from the benefits in trade relations, as has happened in countries such as Norway.

ON THEMSELVES QUESTION: 'Why would you make the best MP for Blackburn and what will be your priorities?' from Grace Daley, aged 17.

All the candidates were keen to stress their understanding of local issues, particularly 'Blackburn born and bred' Mr Eastwood (Con), who said: "I know Blackburn like the back of my hand. I want to climb over the bar left by Jack Straw and work tirelessly to make people's lives better."

Mrs Hollern (Lab) said she has lived in the borough for 22 years, and bringing up her family in the town had 'convinced me the only way to run a society is in a fair and just way'.

Mr Dayle (UKIP) said he and the rest of his generation have been let down by the established parties, and he would bring 'real change', while Mr Lishman (LD) said he was a life-long trade unionist with vast experience of persuading businesses to invest in communities.