Playtime was interrupted when Cherie Blair paid a visit to a children's nursery.

The Prime Minister's wife took a break from the Labour Party conference to spend 45 minutes at the Hopscotch nursery in Portland Road, Hove, where she chatted to staff and children.

She was accompanied by Celia Barlow, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade.

After arriving at 10am Mrs Blair was given a cup of tea and a tour of the facilities and was presented with a bouquet by Josh Wybourne, three.

Gemma Middleton, nursery manager, said: "It was lovely and she's a really friendly down-to-earth woman.

"The children were all really good and spoke to her. The younger ones smiled at her.

"She asked them their names and ages and discussed their activities."

Mrs Blair also talked about her son Leo, who was five years old in May and is currently in Year One of school.

Hopscotch is a private nursery which caters for 68 children from birth until five.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005