THE four candidates vying for the Thurrock seat at this week’s election were grilled tonight at the Gazette hustings in Grays.

Hundreds turned out to see Tory Jackie Doyle-Price, Labour's John Kent, Ukip's Tim Aker and Liberal Democrat Kevin McNamara do battle on subjects ranging from the new Lower Thames Crossing, health, education, Brexit and housing.

We covered the exchanges blow by blow in our live blog on the hustings.

Despite several heckles coming on the Thames Crossing, the audience at St Peter's and St Paul's Church were praised for giving candidates the chance to air their views, three days ahead of polling day.

John Kent, Labour candidate, went on the offensive and slammed the "smoke screen" of Tory cuts.

He said: “I think often difficult decisions or tough choices, they are used as a cover  and smoke screen as they hit ordinary working people.

“We have been told that a tough decision was restricting public sector pay, giving nurses and police officers no or little pay rise.

“Theresa May told us a difficult decision was scrapping winter fuel allowance, the real difficult decision was for pensioners being fearful opening winter fuel bill.”

Jackie Doyle-Price responded by reminding audience that there is "no money tree."

She said: “Tough decisions enable a country to live within its means, the deficit stands at £150billion – more than we were spending on education and health combined.

“We cannot carry on like this, finances must be sustainable.

“We have to decide our priorities – prioritising health and schools.

“We want to make life easier for those working hard, increasing personal allowance – ave family has £1,000 of extra disposable income.”

“This scaremongering about winter fuel allowance is a bluff.”

“We have made the right decisions, we will continue making sensible decisions – there is no money tree."

Tim Aker, Ukip candidate, believes the country needs to "follow through on Brexit" and that the difficult decision has already been taken.

He said: “We made the difficult decision in June last year, with Brexit. We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make sure we get the right Brexit deal.

“Ukip put forward a motion to end free movement of Labour, Labour party opposed this, Tories abstained. Without Ukip voice, there would have been no referendum and we would have to accept every law from EU.

"The tough decision is, do we want to follow Brussels law, or do we follow through. Support me to finish the job.”

Kevin McNamara, Lib Dem candidate, continued his attack on the Tories.

He said: “There is no money tree, Jackie was right, but the Tories have no costings, they are trying to pull wool over our eyes.

“Liberal Democrats have been honest on costings, investing into NHS which its Chief Executive says was needed to secure its future.”