WITH just a week to go before the Holyrood election, the public are being offered the chance to voice their opinions and quiz the candidates in Helensburgh.

A hustings event, organised by the Advertiser, will take place on Monday, May 2 at The Tower Digital Arts Centre, Sinclair Street, in Helensburgh. The doors will open at 7pm and the event will kick off at 7.30pm.

The public are free to attend the event on the night and questions can be submitted in advance.

The Dumbarton constituency candidates hoping to be elected to the Scottish Parliament on May 5 include: Jackie Baillie, of Scottish Labour; Maurice Corry, of Scottish Conservatives; Aileen Morton, of Scottish Liberal Democrats; Andrew Muir, Independent; and Gail Robertson, of the Scottish National Party.

The event will be chaired by Advertiser columnist and journalist Ruth Wishart.

Each of the five candidates in the spotlight will have three minutes to present their opening statement before the remainder of the evening follows a Question Time format where candidates will answer pre-selected questions before it is opened up to the floor.

Henry Ainslie, editor of the Advertiser and event organiser, said: “The spotlight is firmly on the Dumbarton seat in this election, and whichever way the result goes it is sure to be one of Holyrood 2016’s biggest talking points.

“With just days to go before the big vote on May 5, this hustings event will give the Helensburgh public the chance to put their final questions to the candidates before making their big decision.”

Ms Wishart, who chaired similar events last year, said hustings are good ways for the voters to see the candidates before the election.

She said: “I did a couple of these last year and always found the audience very lively and engaged. Sometimes too lively.

“It’s always good for voters to be able to see the whites of their candidates’ eyes.”

Mr Ainslie added: “As was demonstrated in the run up to last year’s Westminster election, The Tower is an incredible venue which really helps elevate these events to the next level, as does Ruth Wishart’s position as chair.

“I invite as many people as possible to come along, and seize this fantastic opportunity to engage with politics at the coalface.”

To submit a question in advance to the candidates, please email your name and question to editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk before May 2 at noon.