Journalism students quizzed their local MP on subjects ranging from youth crime to the importance of voting when he dropped in to their school.

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer spoke to media students at The Compton School in Summers Lane, North Finchley, for almost an hour on Friday.

The budding young hacks, aged between 15 and 16, questioned the Conservative politician on current affairs and his own career after inviting him to visit the school.

Deputy headteacher Malcolm McGlynn said: “He was very personable and they asked him some challenging questions.

“They got a good sense of what democracy is about and it was a good experience for them to interview someone who is taking decisions that affect their future.”