MP hopefuls for Herefordshire warned against ‘knee-jerk reactions’ in light of recent terror attacks while also encouraging more integration and kindness within communities.

The Hereford and South Herefordshire candidates attended a hustings debate at Whitecross High School on Monday – an event which had been postponed due to the atrocities committed at Manchester Arena which left 22 people dead and followed an attack on London Bridge which claimed the lives of seven people.

Introducing the debate, Tim Knapp, head teacher at the school, said: "Democracy is the most important bedrock of this country and this is the thing that makes us a strong, kind, caring society which will triumph over the kind of horrors that we have seen over the weekend."

Labour candidate, Anna Coda, said it was important to resist 'knee-jerk' reactions in terms of stigmatising particular groups and religions.

"The sort of violence we have seen has no place in any religion at all," she said, adding that police numbers also needed to be looked at.

"In the West Mercia Police area, which Herefordshire is part of, there are now 298 less police officers than there were in 2010."

Green Party candidate, Diana Toynbee, said it was important to mix with people we might not normally speak to and Independent, Jim Kenyon, said: "Integration is really, really important. We need to be kind to each other."

Meanwhile, Lib Dem candidate, Lucy Hurds, outlined a project she had already been working on with Herefordshire Council's race equality development officer to 'bust myths' in light of online fake news.

She said: "With social media it can be hard to work out what's fact and what's opinion and what's being passed on.

"Once we are dealing with the facts and people stop being scared about bad information we will be in a better position to say what's actually going on."

Jesse Norman, Conservative candidate and most recent MP for the area praised police and emergency services who rushed towards danger during an attack at Westminster in March.

"I was in the Chamber when there was the terrorist attack in Westminster and we were locked in for four hours. I absolutely take my hat off to everyone on the parliamentary estate and the police and everyone involved as they did a superb job of protecting us," he said.

"The best everyone can do is treat each other with courtesy and respect and kindness and if we do that we will defeat these people."