TICKETS are being snapped up fast for the Argus debate on Monday, February 5.

The forthcoming by- election for a city council seat in East Brighton will be residentsā€™ only chance to go to the polls in 2018 ā€“barring another snap general election.

The Argusā€™s free public debate will be the only place voters can grill their candidates.

The vote next month will determine who succeeds Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP as one of the three ward councillors.

The four-way contest to succeed him is hotting up with Labour, Tory, Lib Dem and Green candidates all facing scrutiny from TV and radio stations.

But the one chance to see them in the flesh and ask them your own questions will be in the Premier Hall of Brighton Racecourse at 7pm on Monday, February 5, at a debate hosted by The Argus.

Admission is free but ticketed so we can anticipate attendance.

To book your place, go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-brighton-council-by-election-debate-hosted-by-the-argus-tickets-42366249593.

The debate will be chaired and moderated by University of Sussex professor of journalism Ivor Gaber.

Candidates will have a chance to make short opening statements and then Professor Gaber will take questions from the audience.

We will not require questions to in advance but will trust Professor Gaber to press for full answers from all the candidates.

Green candidate Ed Baker, Liberal Democrat George Taylor and Conservative Edward Wilson have already confirmed they will appear to debate with each other and answer questions from voters.

The front runner, Labour candidate Nancy Platts, said in a statement: ā€œIā€™m sorry that I am not able to attend because my priority is to use all my available time at the weekends and in the evenings to meet as many East Brighton residents as possible on the doorstep, especially those who are unable to get out and about.ā€

We invited her again yesterday but she has yet to accept the offer.

However we are still hopeful of encouraging Ms Platts to attend as are many readers who have commented online and on social media.

The East Brighton ward encompasses Whitehawk as well as several streets around the Royal Sussex County Hospital, extending as far as the seafront.

Mr Russell-Moyle is stepping down from the council having been elected to Parliament by the Brighton Kemptown constituency last June.

The election will be held on Thursday, February 8.