WITH just eight days remaining until voters make their opinions known at the ballot box, the country is gripped by election fever - or is it?

Party political broadcasts interrupt our usual television viewing and budding members of Parliament are engaged in 24 hour catfights to convince the electorate that their manifestos are foolproof and trustworthy, but still many people are feeling disillusioned and confused about whether their vote really counts.

The party leaders know the key to future success is winning support from the next generation but if the views of this group are to be believed, politicians are falling short of target with their party campaigns.

Tarporley student John-Paul Padvoiskis, 18, who is currently studying A-levels in maths, IT and PE at Sir John Deane's College, said: "I've seen the Conservative and Labour ads and thought they were insightful but the leaders are too concerned with pointing out the opposition's downfalls and forget to reinforce what their own policies actually are.

"I'm not against tuition fees, because I think paying for education is a way of making you responsible at an early age, but I do think some aid should be available for people who can't afford to go to university.

"I don't trust any of the party leaders. I think Tony Blair's a liar and Michael Howard is out of touch with what the younger generation wants.

"Liberal Democrats are the only party who want to help students, but no one votes for them because they think they won't get in power anyway."

IT, media and business studies student Stuart Butterworth, from Hartford, said: "We don't have time to research what each party stands for when we've got exams so near and I don't feel like there's enough information out there readily available for you.

"I don't know if I'll vote because I don't know enough about any of the parties to make it worthwhile."

Rosemary Huntriss, 18, from Delamere, said lesson time could be better used to inform first time voters about what each party represents.

She said: "I think general studies lessons should tell students about politics and policies.

"We've had no information about the elections and I don't watch the news so I'm undecided as to whether there's any point in me voting."

But all three students were in agreement that Britain should keep its national currency.

John-Paul said: "That's the problem with the Lib Dems, I think they would just sell us out to Europe.

"There's no benefit in taking the Euro and that's why it would be nice to keep our own identity."

Pupils at Weaverham High School, however, cannot wait until they can legally vote and have been researching election procedures and quizzing local candidates ahead of their school's May 5 mock election.

Michael Lawson, 15, said: "I didn't really feel like the MPs answered our questions.

"They just wanted to promote their policies and changed the questions we asked to suit themselves."

Becky Diamond, 15, who is standing for Labour in the school election, said: "I'm really interested in politics and I would definitely support Labour if I could vote.

"I respect Tony Blair and think he's kept his promises.

"I know people disagree with the war but I think any leader would have done the same in his position."

Julia Nicholson, also 15, added: "It's hard to know who to support because I feel like parties just make promises to get in power but never actually stick to what they've said. We just want someone who's honest."

Top up fees were also a worry for the high school students.

John Mitchell, 15, said: "Obviously for all of us, education is a really big issue and I don't believe we should have to pay top up fees.

"Labour introduced this when there was nothing wrong with the system before, so I wouldn't support them."

A straw poll among 10 students showed exactly half supportng the Liberal Democrats, with Tories scooping four votes and Labour with just one taker.

It may be seven years until they can legally have their say, but the Government could do worse than taking advice from the pupils at Lostock Gralam CE Primary School.

Four out of the five pupils interviewed there said they would be happy to vote Conservative, but felt that policies needed changing.

Shavaun Dutton, 11, said: "They need to do more for the environment like stop having so many cars because it's bad for pollution.

"And also more should be done for education so that everyone can afford to go to university."

Daniel Johnson, 11, believes Britain should be more welcoming.

"I think everyone should be allowed to live here, from whatever country, and we should let them have free medical care and dentists," he said.

"We shouldn't turn anyone away.

"I think the perfect Prime Minister would be someone who was generous with their money or Ali G, because he's funny."