WORCESTER'S General Election hopefuls have clashed over calls to dual the congested Carrington Bridge - with the Green Party's candidate saying the £70 million "would be better spent on other things".

During a passionate debate at the Cap 'N' Gown pub last night, Louis Stephen said he'd rather see proper alternatives like beefed up public transport instead of widening the A4440 south Worcester route.

During three hours of questioning:

- All of the candidates backed the plans for a £10.4 million, eight-lane pool at Perdiswell apart from Labour's Joy Squires, who said there are still "unresolved questions" over the bill for taxpayers

- Federica Smith, the Lib Dem candidate who lives in Somerset, said one of the things that struck her about Worcester when she first arrived was "huge congestion"

- UKIP's James Goad said on education, it was time to scrap tuition fees for people doing key subjects like maths and science, as long as they finish their degrees and work in that field for five years after graduating

The first hour of the debate focused on general issues, which was recorded by BBC Hereford & Worcester for a broadcast from 7pm tonight, before the final two hours delved into education.

On the Carrington Bridge Conservative Robin Walker and Councillor Squires clashed, with the Tory saying the old Labour Government failed to secure any roads investment under the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown years.

"Under Labour we were promised a north west link road for 13 years and absolutely nothing happened, we didn't get a penny of proper investment in our roads," he said.

Councillor Squires said: "The Carrington Bridge does need to be dualled, there's no doubt about that, because I'm not convinced the (A4440) Southern Link Road improvements will do much at all.

"And the Whittington island changes have created one of the most dangerous spots in Worcestershire, wherever I go through it I think 'here we go'."

She also heavily criticised the closure of Perdiswell park and ride, but Mr Walker said it would not work without making more city centre streets residents-only.

"Until you stop having as much free parking in residents' areas park and ride will never take off," he said.

On education, Mr Walker said an extra "£214 per pupil" would be secured if the next Government was prepared to take on a new proposed fairer funding formula from the f40 campaign group, on top of the £97 per head secured now.

But the other parties all criticised the Coalition's record on education, with Mr Stephen saying research suggests "90 per cent" of all teachers have considered quitting in the last two years and Mr Goad insisted schools are fed up with all the paperwork and checks.

Both Mr Stephen and Peter McNally, from Trades Unionist and Socialist Coalition, said tuition fees should be scrapped.

Mr Goad also called for a "single formula" of funding for all schools to end the disparities.