Any Questions hosted by High Arcal School

Hundreds of students and visitors eagerly joined the debate as top politicians came to a Black Country school for a live radio broadcast.

Controversy over the European Union and the economy were hot topics for the panel gathered at High Arcal School, in Sedgley, last night .

Journalist and broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby chaired the debate for BBC Radio Four's Any Questions programme.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, shadow Home Office minister Gloria de Piero, journalist and columnist Mary Riddell and former police chief Sir Charles Pollard fielded questions from the audience who applied to the school for free tickets. High Arcal was picked by producers to coincide with the school's 50th anniversary celebrations.

Mr Hammond said he fully backed David Cameron's decision to exercise the UK's veto against the EU treaty, adding the country had the right to defend its freedoms.

But Miss de Piero accused the Prime Minister of pandering to his back benchers.

A vote taken during the programme showed the majority were also in favour of the Prime Minster's decision.