A group of Amman Valley sixth-formers put the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, through his paces when he came to Ammanford on Friday as part of the Welsh Labour general election campaign.

Mr Jones met with youngsters study politics in Quay Street and was questioned on subjects ranging from the economy, education, devolution and independence.

Politics teacher Steve Haggert said: “We are trying to encourage political awareness in school and this was a really great opportunity for the students to meet the First Minister.”

The school is currently running its own mock election, including hustings and leaders debates, and the youngsters were keen to meet a real politician.

“He was nice enough and came across as being really honest,” said Daisy Onyewu, of Cefnbrynbrain.

“Initially he had the aura of a Westminster politician but he became more real once we started talking to him.”

Esther Jones, from Penybanc, added: “He was more like a real person once we started talking.”

Katie Alkaradi, from Tycroes, said the visit had been more than worthwhile.

“We are all really interested in politics so it was good to meet him,” she said.

Mr Jones used the visit to call for Welsh voters to unite behind Labour.

“In every constituency I’ve visited in Wales someone has told me they’re coming back to Labour after years of voting for other parties – or they’re saying they are lending us our vote this time to kick out the Tories,” he said.

“A progressive alliance of Welsh voters is building up, and we want more people to join.

“The vast majority of voters, up to 75 per cent of them in Wales, will be going to the polls in less than two weeks with one big thing in common – they want an end to Tory rule at Westminster.

“But, many of them are going to wake up disappointed if we let Tories in the backdoor by splitting the progressive vote where Welsh Labour can win.”

However, Plaid Cymru hit out at the call for “tactical voting”.

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:"The claim from the First Minister that a vote for Labour is the only way to keep out the Tories is a con.

"For nearly a century Wales has rejected the Tory party and voted Labour but ended up with Tory governments in Westminster.

“The Amman Valley has been awash with Labour politicians from London and Cardiff trying to drum up support for their tired rhetoric of beating the Tories. The only time we see Labour in our communities is when there’s an election going on.

“Today’s flying visit from the First Minister in which he tries to blackmail people into supporting his party is a sign that the Labour campaign in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr is failing.

"The only way to get the best deal for Wales in terms of powers and funding and to end damaging Westminster austerity is by returning the strongest ever group of Plaid Cymru Members of Parliament.”