General election TV debates: Sky and Channel 4 make offer to David Cameron and Ed Miliband

Channel 4 and Sky have offered to host a head-to-head debate between David Cameron and Ed Miliband before the general election campaign officially gets under way.

The offer by the broadcasters comes after the prime minister and Labour leader traded blows about the contentious issue at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 March.

Miliband accused Cameron of being reluctant to take part, with the PM calling for the debates to take place ahead of 30 March.

Issuing a joint statement, Sky and Channel 4 said: "Sky News and Channel 4 are continuing to prepare for a head-to-head debate between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition on 30 April.

"However, in response to media inquiries following today's PMQs, we would obviously be willing to host a debate on a different day the two main party leaders could agree on."

A head-to-debate between the two main party leaders is slated for 30 April on the channels, a week before polling day on 7 May.