Charles Kennedy and his Liberal Democrat Party will return to Brighton and Hove for their annual conference next year.

The party's 2006 main gathering will take place in the city from September 16 to 21.

Paul Elgood, leader of the Lib Dems on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "This is great news for Brighton and Hove as conferences such as this provide a major boost to the local tourist industry.

"The Liberal Democrats are strong supporters of Brighton and Hove as a conference venue. We keep coming back because of the warm welcome we get."

The Lib Dems were last in Brighton in 2003. The party went to Bournemouth last year and will be in Blackpool next month, when the Labour Party returns to Brighton for the second year running.

The bombings in London have prompted a heightened state of alert in the run-up to Labour's visit to Brighton from September 25 to 29.

More than 1,000 police, some armed, will be positioned at key points for the event and a secure "island site" will be created around the Brighton Centre, The Grand hotel, Metropole Hotel and Russell Road car park from Friday, September 23, until Thursday, September 29.

Police are working closely with the military and security services as part of Operation Otter, which last year cost £2.4 million but this year is expected to cost a record £3.5 million.

Tourism chiefs have estimated the conference earns city businesses about £10 million.