ELECTION candidates discussed their views over environmental concerns at a hustings event in Dorchester.

Five candidates for the West Dorset parliamentary seat took part in the event at the Thomas Hardye School.

Pater Barton from the Green Party, Ukip's David Glossop, Ros Kayes for the Liberal Democrats, Conservative Oliver Letwin and Labour's Rachel Rogers attended the event.

Candidates faced eight questions raised by the public including issues surrounding climate change, wildlife crime, fracking, animal welfare and marine conservation.

Tessa Hardinge from Dorset Badger and Bovine Welfare Group asked the candidates about wildlife crime, specifically their views on fox hunting.

Mr Letwin stated that his party would be looking to reconsider the law on fox hunting in a vote in the House of Commons.

He said: "Everyone should be prosecuted where there is evidence it has been committed. One of the problems of the hunting act is that many people think they are doing something that is right."

Ms Kayes said: "The law is the law."

Mr Barton argued that rural policing needs strengthening.

He said: "We would want to strengthen the ban on hunting and we would work closely with the police."

Ms Rogers said: "It's shameful that a handful of people continue to flout the law. We need to make sure we are resourcing our police effectively."

Ms Hardinge responded that she was 'disappointed' that Mr Letwin's group is rethinking the act.

Judy Edwards from Greenpeace raised concerns about fracking, asking candidates what their stance would be if a planning application including hydraulic fracturing were to be made.

Ms Kayes said: "We are completely against fracking. It is entirely inappropriate for Dorset."

Mr Glossop said: "Here in Dorset it would be a disaster if we started getting earthquakes even on the scale of four on the Richter scale."

Mr Barton said: “We need to make the transition to renewables."

Ms Rogers said: "I don't even know why we are thinking about it. What are we going to do with all the excess water? We need to be thinking about long term renewable energy."

However, Mr Letwin argued that fracking would be a positive idea for Dorset.

He said: "We are in favour of fracking. I think it is a good thing not to depend on the Middle East."

Sue Aldous from the Dorset Badger Vaccination Project raised concerns over the badger cull and vaccination.

Mr Glossip said: "Vaccination of cattle is a potential way forward."

Ms Rogers said: "We are wholly opposed to the badger culls. We have seen the problems caused by the badger population but we need to be working with farmers, scientists and we need to be prioritising vaccines."

Mr Letwin said that famers were being terrorised by badger TB.

He said: "We need to support the culling trials and follow them through."