University tuition fees topped the agenda as parliamentary hopefuls tried to woo first-time voters at a school hustings.

Four of the five politicians vying to become MP for Brentford & Isleworth were invited to address nearly 500 sixth-formers - many of whom will be able to vote for the first time on May 7 - at The Heathland School, in Hounslow, on Wednesday (April 23).

With fewer than 2,000 votes separating the Conservatives and Labour locally at the last general election new voters could prove the difference this time, and candidates took the opportunity to tailor their messages to the teenage audience.

Employment and housing featured prominently in their speeches but tuition fees was perhaps the hottest topic, with those heading to university now facing a £27,000 bill for a three-year degree.

Liberal Democrat candidate Joe Bourke failed to make an appearance, despite being invited by the school, and rivals were quick to dig the knife in about his party breaking its 2010 pre-election pledge to scrap tuition fees, instead forming a coalition government which increased them.

Green Party candidate Daniel Goldsmith told how his party would scrap the fees altogether, while Ruth Cadbury said a Labour government would cut them to £6,000 a year.

Even Conservative candidate Mary Macleod, whose party pushed through the increase, said she was surprised the Lib Dems had chosen to sacrifice their pledge on tuition fees when forming a coalition government.

"If I'd been the Liberal Democrats I probably wouldn't have negotiated on tuition fees" she said. "Instead of tuition fees they chose electoral reform [as their key policy] and they didn't even get that in the end."

After the candidates' opening speeches, students got to quiz them about issues including public spending cuts, defence and unscrupulous landlords.

Perhaps mindful of the fact they were in school, candidates were on their best behaviour. The only minor flash point came when Ms Cadbury blamed government funding cuts for Hounslow Council's failure to build more social housing, and Ms Macleod tried unsuccessfully to interrupt.

UKIP candidate Richard Hendron was not invited as the school said it was unaware he was standing when it organised the event and time constraints meant it was unable to add him to the list of speakers.

The party's manifesto says it would scrap tuition fees for university students studying science, technology, engineering, maths or medicine.

Mr Bourke told getwestlondon he was unable to attend due to a "domestic emergency" and said he had called the school after the hustings to apologise.

The Lib Dem manifesto makes no commitment to cut tuition fees, which graduates only start paying when they earn over £21,000, but says the party would work to widen access to university.

What did the students make of them?

We asked five first-time voters at the school what they thought of the candidates' performances.

Despite all but one picking Ms Macleod as the most impressive performer on the day, none said they would be voting Conservative.

Most said the hustings had not changed their voting intentions, with two pupils supporting Labour, one backing the Lib Dems and another supporting the Green Party.

One student, however, said she had been a Labour supporter before the hustings but was thinking of switching to the Green Party after being impressed by what Mr Goldsmith had to say.

All five said they would consider voting tactically and most were keen to get involved in politics, but crucially they said despite their best efforts to persuade them few of their peers had bothered to register to vote.

Hanan Isaaq said she would be voting for the Liberal Democrats

"I like their stance on education and welfare. I think because they promised to abolish tuition fees before the last election they'll be under more scrutiny this time, and I don't think the other parties' promises to cut tuition fees will work out."

Manpreet Pannu said he would vote for Labour

"I don't like the way the Conservatives and UKIP are blaming so many things on immigration. Labour are sticking to the important issues like education and welfare, and I like their plans to get rid of zero hour contracts."

Kulveer Pal said she had been planning to vote Labour but was now considering plumping for the Green Party

"I need to do some more reading because the Green Party candidate swayed me a bit. I think he had a real sense that the election's not just about this borough or even the UK but the whole world. He was talking about what we can do to help poorer countries, which is important.

"I also like their promise to scrap tuition fees because it's difficult knowing you're going to finish university with so much debt."

Mukarram Chaudhry said his vote would go to the Green Party

"I like their values. I think they have good intentions and although they probably won't get into power they think more about the social issues affecting other people around the world. I think it's important to have a fair society not just here but across the world."

Freya Amjad said she would probably be voting Labour

"I didn't think Ruth Cadbury's performance was as good as Mary Macleod's but I think the cost of living crisis is a big issue.

"I didn't even know there was a food bank in Hounslow until today. Now that I've found out I think Labour would be best at dealing with the issues that mean we need one."