SHE keeps MPs in line at Westminster but Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong was put on the spot by children when she visited a local school this week.

The North West Durham MP was quizzed about decision-making, the life of an MP and the work of the Government by members of the school council at Langley Park Primary School, in County Durham.

Ms Armstrong faced a range of questions from the members of the council in front of an audience of their classmates.

She said: "I was very pleased to receive the invite from the members of the school council.

"Their school council has some hard decisions to make and wanted to know how the Government make their decisions.

"It was great to see the enthusiasm of the school councillors and I suspect there may have been a few future MPs among them."

Headteacher Dorothy Brennan said: "The children wrote to Hilary themselves to ask her to come.

"It is important that they get to know how decisions are made."

The school now plans to find out about Esh Parish Council and Derwentside District Council.