Brighton and Hove is contesting a claim that rival resort Blackpool, in Lancashire, has become Britain's top conference venue.

The north-west resort pointed to bookings this year by Labour, the Trades Union Congress and several unions.

Labour and the TUC are both holding their annual conferences there for the first time since 1998, when they decided to look elsewhere because of concerns over the standard of the Winter Gardens.

But Brighton and Hove councillor Ian Duncan dismissed the idea that Blackpool outranked the city in the venue league table.

He said: "I'm not surprised Blackpool gets the occasional booking as organisers feel they have to go there.

"But look at our conference programme over the next few years and there is no doubt we are still the top venue."

Coun Duncan said Brighton and Hove had many conference bookings confirmed for national and international organisations, including many medical meetings.

On the political front, it also welcomes back the Liberal Democrats to the Brighton Centre in September.

Blackpool laid claim to the top venue title after reporting conference bookings there are up by ten per cent this year and are worth £60 million to the local economy.

Labour alone is worth £5 million.

Margaret Roffey of Blackpool's conference bureau said: "I am delighted the Labour Party, TUC and unions are back in Blackpool."

Labour was in Brighton for two years in a row before deciding to visit Blackpool this autumn.