First West Midlands Mayor election debate to be hosted by the Express & Star

All five candidates from the main parties will be outlining their policies and taking part in the Question Time-style event chaired by Editor Keith Harrison.

It will be held on the evening of Tuesday, March 7 in The Workers' Institute in front of a 200-strong audience and broadcast live online.

"The West Midlands Mayor will wield great influence over the next few years and it's important that people get the chance to have their say on the key issues in the Black Country and beyond," said Mr Harrison.

"It will be a great opportunity for ordinary people to question the candidates about their policies and I'm looking forward to some lively debates."

Details of how Express & Star readers can attend the debate will be released in the coming days.

The event will be the first of four major hustings taking place across the West Midlands organised by the region's newspapers and Urban Communications.

James Burn (Green), Pete Durnell (Ukip), Beverley Nielsen (Lib Dem), Sion Simon (Labour) and Andy Street (Conservative) are bidding to be the first 'Metro Mayor' for the West Midlands and will have new powers over transport, economic growth, skills, housing, and mental health.