A SPECIAL question time event was to be held today to kick off Local Democracy Week in Hyndburn.

The high profile event involved young people from across the borough and give 240 pupils from Hyndburn's six secondary schools the opportunity to talk directly to the policy makers whose decisions affect their lives.

The aim of this event is to explore issues that are important to young people and give them the chance to speak their minds and be listened to.

They will have the opportunity to put questions to a panel of local policy makers and influential role models including Mike Chambers, chief executive of Hyndburn Borough Council, police Chief Inspector Steve Gregson, Coun Hazel Harding, Lancashire County Council chair of Education and Dave Haslam, Manchester based DJ, journalist and performer.

The event will be hosted by Lemn Sissay, a Manchester-based poet and performer who has a reputation for dealing with hard hitting issues through comedy and in a very approachable manner.

This groundbreaking event at the New Era Centre, Paradise Street, Accrington, will be the first of a series of events for the fifth Local Democracy Week.