WHILE the national parties discuss health, education and tax, Lancaster's Labour and Tory candidates have found their own big issue to squabble about -- posters.

A row erupted after campaigners backing Labour's Hilton Dawson removed posters backing Tory Steve Barclay which were on public countryside along the A6.

The posters were originally removed by Lancashire County Council but were then put back in place.

Mr Dawson said: "This is another example of Tory arrogance. It shows that they're incapable of listening and that they put their own interest before that of the public."

But vandals who damaged some Tory posters came under fire from supporter and former prisoner of conscience James Mawdsley.

Mr Mawdsley, fresh from 18 months in a Burmese jail, joined local Tories for a day on the campaign trail.

He said: "The military junta in Burma is terrified of free expression and any opposition. Nobody need be afraid of it here. "

But he was full of praise for the 13 year old schoolgirl who tipped off his party: "On the one hand it is encouraging that a young person made the effort to come and tell us, but it is unpleasant to reflect that adults in Britain are stifling democratic expression."

Messrs Dawson and Barclay come face to face, along with fellow candidates Liz Scott (Liberal Democrat), John Whitelegg (Green) and John Whittaker (UK Independence), this week.

All five candidates will meet with students and staff in an election debate at St Martin's College at 1pm on Friday.

The meeting in the Hugh Pollard Lecture Theatre and is open to the public.