Lindsay Jennings of The Northern Echo returns to students at Sedgefield Community College in Tony Blair's constituency to ask them how they feel the crisis is unfolding.

What should Tony Blair do now? Catherine Davison, 16: Reassure and gain the support of his own party. If he cannot retain the trust of the Labour Party, it does not mark his chances of the rest of the world supporting him very highly.

Kimberly Runciman, 16: Regain the support of his own party as I don't think he can do very much on his own.

Liam Bell, 16: Listen to the people and his party. The public have lost confidence in Labour.

William Round, 15: Hold more talks with Mr Bush and the UN. Saddam is evil but neither Mr Blair nor Mr Bush has the right to kill innocent people to get to him.

Carly Parsons, 15: Continue to discuss war on Iraq with his own country before his final decision to join the US. I still think we should go to war, but Blair needs his country's support.

Joanne McHale, 15: Listen to his people before listening to President Bush. We elected him to run this country, not to send us to war.

Philip Bradshaw, 15: Listen to his own people and not Mr Bush.

Anthony Hughes, 14: Listen to his country instead of Mr Bush. He should carry out another weapons inspection in Iraq.

Steven Bagshaw, 14: Have a debate to find out what the majority of the people want him to do and then, if necessary, he should take action against Iraq.

What should Mr Blair do if there is not a second United Nations resolution? Catherine Davison: Listen to the views of the UN. Without its support, Britain will be seen as one of the countries that started the war. It is important that some compromise is reached or the UN will crumble and countries will be forced to stand alone.

Kimberly Runciman: My views are changing. If there is a war and we do not back America, Iraq may turn on us. America won't help us if we don't help them. Maybe the best idea is to back Mr Bush.

Liam Bell: Take all other possibilities into consideration before going to war.

William Round: Listen to the public's views. Most people have a strong opinion, one way or the other. There is a lot of hearsay and not enough proof to back up any action that could be taken.

Carly Parsons: Extend the deadline. He needs more evidence of Iraq's failure to disarm. If he gets more evidence, I think it gives the US/UK a reason to go ahead.

Joanne McHale: Still try to find common ground rather than war. War should be the very last resort. If Saddam doesn't comply with the second resolution, there must be another resolution challenging him and giving inspectors the time that Hans Blix has said he requires.

Philip Bradshaw: Not use it as an excuse for war, but should stop to think about the consequences.

Anthony Hughes: Extend the deadline and mull over the conditions before jumping straight into war.

Steven Bagshaw: Listen to his people rather than Mr Bush, but also keep the pressure on Saddam to disarm.

How important is the UN now? Catherine Davison: The UN is designed to help stop conflict. Breaking up the UN would be destroying what it is designed to keep - the peace.

Kimberly Runciman: The UN is supposed to keep the peace. If it fails, there will never be peace and the world would be exposed to war as long as our civilisation remains or until we all blow ourselves up. But the big question is: can the UN help us all?

Liam Bell: Very important, although the process is causing ill-feeling among our allies and the smaller countries, and we are losing support for the war.

William Round: Very important. It was set up to prevent such wars and to safeguard human rights.

Carly Parsons: Extremely important. Its vote will determine which side has the most support. But if the UN decides to back out or stay neutral, it could lead to a further, bigger war, and there will be bad feelings within the UN and the UK.

Joanne McHale: The UN is the only thing delaying Tony Blair from war. His decision to go to war without UN backing is disturbing as it has alienated us from some of the most powerful countries in the UN.

Philip Bradshaw: Very important. If we do not have any allies, we will have no support.

Anthony Hughes: Very important. It has the power to decide to go to war or to extend the deadline, or to change the amount of weapons wanted and to discuss peace and the end of the war before it gets out of hand.

Steven Bagshaw: Very important to Bush and Blair because if they find some evidence they can justifiably take action against Iraq. However, whatever the UN says may not change views in Britain because we are stubborn and the majority of people don't want war.

13/03/2003