A PANEL of academics and politicians will head to a village hall next month, for a North Yorkshire version of Any Questions.

Melmerby Village Hall will be the venue for a regional take on the Radio 4 topical discussion programme on November 30.

The event is to raise money for St Mary’s Church in Wath and the public will have their chance to put their questions to the panel.

Chaired by Judge Sean Morris, recorder of Lincoln, the panel will include Conservative MP for Ripon and Skipton, Julian Smith, Professor Dianne (CORRECT) Willcocks, former vice chair of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation.

Also on the panel will be Della Cannings, chair of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and former chief constable of North Yorkshire Police and Christopher Snowdon, from Middleton Quernhow. Mr Snowdon is a political commentator, writer and researcher and author of The Art of Suppression.

Church council member Richard Graham said: “This promises to be an evening of topical debate with speakers from across the political spectrum. Guests will also get the chance to put their own questions.”

This event starts at 7pm with a wine reception and the chance to meet the panellists and tickets cost £10.

For tickets and information contact Pauline Aldous at paulinealdous@yahoo.co.uk or 01765-641255 or Richard Graham at richard.graham@rgpr.co.uk on 01765-640736.