WORSHIPPERS were asked to put their faith in one of the three main party candidates for Reading West as the May 6 judgement day looms ever closer.

But there were no political thunderbolts as Monday night's hustings at Tilehurst Methodist Church, hosted by Reading Faith Forum, turned out to be a placid affair.

Considering the vague answers during most of the two-and-a-half hour questioning of Tory Alok Sharma, Labour's Naz Sarkar and Lib Dem Daisy Benson, the largely religious audience would be forgiven for emerging as non-believers in politics.

Candidates were asked what they liked about Reading and who they would work with in a hung parliament. The fiercest debate followed Mr Sharma's reference to the Tories' Big Society proposals, which appeared unpopular among the majority of the audience.

Mustafa Chaudhary, from Reading Muslim Council, said afterwards: "I am concerned that it will benefit middle class people, who are able to get organised and get the best for their kids, but forget the people living in struggling communities."

But despite the criticism, Mr Sharma came across as the best speaker, confidently attacking Labour's planned National Insurance rise and backing the Tory pledge to ringfence NHS funding.

Mark Drukker, an officer at Reading Synagogue, said he was concerned with the way Miss Benson singled out Israel when asked about international human rights.

He added: "My community is not happy with the Lib Dem attitude to Israel. Unbalanced criticism can badly affect us."

Miss Benson went on to call for more NHS counselling services for domestic violence victims and backed her party's opposition to renewing Trident. But she daringly attacked man-of-the-moment Nick Clegg, saying he has not done enough to promote women MPs to senior party roles.

Mr Sarkar said as a teacher he had experienced first hand Labour's investment in education, prompting disagreement from a fellow professional in the audience.

The debate was chaired by Chronicle news editor, Maurice O'Brien.

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TV cameras captured the debate held by Reading Faith Forum.

It was filmed by Parliament's Education Service, will also make a follow-up video of the winning Reading West MP's first day in Westminster.

The seat is 107th on the Conservative's target list after the retirement of Labour MP Martin Salter. Producer Ben Tunningley said: "We chose it because it is a marginal seat and whoever wins will be a new MP."