VOLUNTARY and community groups are to quiz election candidates about what they will do to secure the long-term future of many bodies.

A number of European and Government grants to the voluntary sector come to an end next year which, according to the pressure group Invest 2006, will leave a £50m shortfall in the sector.

Campaigners and the Durham Council of Voluntary Service have called a meeting at 7pm, on Tuesday, in County Hall, Durham, which will be attended by Labour's Roberta Blackman-Woods, Carol Woods of the Liberal Democrats and Ben Rogers of the Conservatives, the three main candidates in the City of Durham constituency.