A HUNDRED sixth form students from Saltash community college put Caradon councillors in the hot seat during a question and answer session on Wednesday - with policing and under age drinking high on the agenda.

Chairman of the council Steve Tait, council leader Eric Lewis, and member for Saltash Pill Marjory Schikowsky, were told of one student's concern about lack of police numbers. The year 12 pupil described being assaulted in the town centre, near security cameras, but said there had been no immediate police response because numbers had been stretched - dealing with incidents in Callington.

Mrs Schikowsky said councillors were also worried about the large number of occasions when the police station was unmanned.

She, and her fellow panel members, also heard from the sixth formers about the ease with which youngsters are often able to buy alcohol, although they were also told by one pupil, with knowledge of the off licence trade, of stringent measures many outlets do try to take to stop selling drink to those who are under age.

This was the fourth annual question and answer session students from the school have had with elected councillors from Caradon, and the whole of year 12 joined in as part of their general studies programme. The councillors were to be asked 13 questions from a range generated by the students, but due to the intensity of the discussions only reached number ten.

Caroline Smith asked: 'What are your views on Saltash's 'part time' police station, and how could the council improve the police presence in Saltash?', while Abbie Smith's question was: 'Do you think that under age drinking has been reduced in Caradon, and do you think your methods have been successful? How would you want to stop it, personally?'

Robert Brown asked the councillors' views about public transport provision in rural areas, Chris Prout wondered what Caradon's ideas were for making its towns more presentable, and David Swift asked: 'Do you think that the interruption, with the bridge being worked on, will affect employment in Saltash long term by putting businesses off for good?'

Nick Scantlebury, head of the school's sixth form, said: 'The question and answer session gives our students the chance to find out what a district council does. When we first start thinking of questions that they might like to ask, many come up with topics like highways or hospitals, which don't actually come under the district council's authority.

'This event is also a good opportunity for the students to put their points of view and to listen to the reasons why things are done in certain ways.'