TONY Blair today put himself in the firing line -- and promised to answer your questions about the key issues facing East Lancashire.

The Prime Minister is putting himself open to questions from Evening Telegraph readers.

And this is your chance to ask him about the things which affect our lives -- and what he is going to do for the area if Labour wins the General Election.

We will travel down to Downing Street later this month with 10 questions from readers and Mr Blair has promised some straight answers on the things which matter most to local people.

But that's not all.

The people posing the questions will be given the chance to comment on the Prime Minister's replies and whether they are happy with what he has said.

Mr Blair said: "I am delighted to have been offered this chance to answer questions from Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers.

"It's always important to hear directly about people's concerns and ambitions for their families.

"It also gives me the chance to explain directly to you what the Government is doing, and intends to do in the future, to tackle your priorities."

Senior politicians from all parties are already to come to East Lancashire during the build-up to the General Election on May 5 as the debate on local issues hots up.

Today Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "I think it is a great idea.

"It is really important that we find new ways of connecting voters with people like the Prime Minister.

"It is very difficult for him to keep in touch with ordinary people.

"This is a good way of doing that.

"Well done the Evening Telegraph.

"The obvious top question is: 'When is the election going to be?

"Please put us all out of our misery."

But Ribble Valley Tory MP Nigel Evans said: "I hope that the Evening Telegraph readers get better answers than we do in Parliament.

"They should ask him why people still have to wait so long for NHS treatment? Why the council tax has gone up 70 per cent under Labour, why parents can't send their children to the school of their choice and why violent crime has soared and people daren't go out late at night?"