GAZETTE readers are being offered the chance to quiz local politicians in the run-up to June's local elections.

Currently, the borough council is finely balanced, with a Labour and Liberal Democrat partnership holding power.

The Conservative Party, with 26 seats, is the largest single group on the council and it is aiming to gain overall control at the elections, which will take place on Thursday, June 10.

As part of the build-up to the borough elections, Gazette Newspapers - which publishes The Basingstoke Extra - has teamed up with BCOT

to arrange a special "Local Election: Question Time" event, and we want readers to come forward to quiz local politicians about why they and their colleagues deserve your votes.

The leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservative, and Independent groups on the borough council have all agreed to put forward a representative to sit on the panel for the event, which will take place in the Robert Newman Room on BCOT's South Site on Wednesday, June 2.

Attendance at the event - which will start at 6pm for 6.30pm, and will finish around 8pm - will be free, however, it will be by invitation only.

If you are interested in attending, please send in your name, age and address and specify the local subject matter about which you wish to ask a question at the event. Please also specify if you are a member of a particular political party.

You can submit the above details by writing to "Local Election: Question Time", The Editor, Gazette Newspapers, Gazette House, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YD, or by e-mailing editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk

The deadline for ticket requests is Friday, May 14.

There are 80 places available in the audience, so anyone interested in attending is urged to get their application - one per person - in as soon as possible.

After the deadline passes, those successful in getting an invitation will be contacted by BCOT.