MP for Saffron Walden Sir Alan Haselhurst spoke to schoolchildren about his passion for cricket and his hopes for the town s future. Sir Alan fielded a wide range of questions from Year Six students at Dame Bradbury s School about his role as an MP and hi

MP for Saffron Walden Sir Alan Haselhurst spoke to schoolchildren about his passion for cricket and his hopes for the town's future.

Sir Alan fielded a wide range of questions from Year Six students at Dame Bradbury's School about his role as an MP and his own early school days, including his ambition to be a test cricket batsman.

When asked what changes he would like to see in Saffron Walden, he stressed that this was the responsibility of the town and district council, but personally he would welcome a theatre and improved access to the town's cricket and football pitches.

He added: "Small stalls in Market Row would enliven the town," said Sir Alan. "I believe trade produces trade and Saffron Walden will benefit if it is an even more interesting place to shop."

Sir Alan said that if there were just one law he could introduce, it would be the legal requirement that before any new housing development was built, the necessary new roads, shops and schools were put in place. "I have seen too many examples where this hasn't happened, even in this area," he said.

Sir Alan praised Year Six's involvement in their school council and said he thought it was a very good introduction to the idea of representing someone else's point of view. He urged all the pupils to carry on playing a part in the community after they left school, not leaving issues "up to someone else to sort out".

The visit was arranged after the children's trip to the Houses of Parliament last year, hosted by Sir Alan, when they had lots of questions to ask him and there was not enough time for him to answer them all.