Chancellor Gordon Brown took time out from a conference to chat with families on the seafront.

Mr Brown took a break from the GMB conference at the Brighton Centre to speak to families eating at Alfresco.

He chatted to Brighton businessman Nigel Higley and his daughter Isobel about what Labour had done to make families better-off since the party won power in 1997.

Mr Higley, of Sidney Street, Brighton, said: "We spoke about child benefits and about how mortgage rates being kept down had benefited families.

"There will be free nursery places for children of three and four which my son Fergus will benefit from next year."

The Chancellor was approached by Natalie Hussell of Blaker Street, Brighton, who asked him to help her receive training.

She told him: "I have been trying to get some computer training through the local department of employment for about six months. I am art trained and I can't use it in the workplace although I want to.

"I don't understand why the local department of employment doesn't seem to be able to help."

Mr Brown asked Labour officials to take her details and said her case would be investigated and promised she would receive a reply.

He had earlier attended the conference with Labour city election candidates Ivor Caplin, Des Turner and David Lepper.

He said tough decisions had been taken on inflation over the past four years.

Mr Brown said: "In the next Parliament we will continue to take tough decisions.

"There will be no quick fixes, no soft options, no relaxing our fiscal discipline and no risks with the economy. A Labour second term can put schools and hospitals first and can invest for success.

"We are cutting the bills of failure, cutting the costs of unemployment and debt failure."