Housing, jobs and the future of the NHS are the key issues influencing first-time voters ahead of the General Election.

The Observer spoke to three young people who will be walking in to the polling station for the first time on May 7.

Martin Goodman lives in Rickmansworth but works at Wicks HQ in Colonial Way, Watford, is still undecided who he will vote for.

He 22-year-old said student fees, the shortage of available graduate jobs and affordable housing were at the front of his mind.

He said: “A lot of housing is private landlords but a one-bed place can cost £1,000 a month – that’s not affordable.

“A large percentage of affordable houses being built appear to be council houses. Councils have to prioritise families, which is understandable, but not enough is being done for people like me.

“Most graduate jobs are in London. I know we are fortunate to live so close but that’s the sort of positions I’d like to see in Watford.

“The old Comet building, for example, has been derelict for years and that is a prime location that could house businesses.”

William Wilshire says he intends to vote for the Liberal Democrats as they “seem to be offering sensible options”.

The Watford student believes more attention needs to be paid to NHS mental health care and he is concerned about ‘Europhobia’.

He said: “My father is a trader, he ships a lot of things to Europe, and I believe that if we were to leave the EU it would not only affect the family business but also the country as a whole. We shouldn’t leave.”

The 19-year-old also said he was “worried about the cost of living”.

Student Jenni Reid believes more should be done to support and keep under-pressure teachers and NHS staff within their professions.

The 22-year-old also fears she will be in a generation of people that will never be in a position to own their own home.

She said: “From friends that have gone into those professions, they have hugely unrealistic expectations that’s driving people out and also affecting the support they provide to patients and children.

“In terms of housing – everything outside of the M25 is slightly affordable but anything inside you can forget about it.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be in a position to buy my own house, I’ll probably be one of the many people renting forever.”