Brighton and Hove is following Denmark's example in a move it hopes will allow senior citizens to influence important aspects of their lives.

Today and tomorrow, at Better Government for Older People, a major public conference at the Brighton Centre, a nine-strong council is being elected which will have the right to receive information from Brighton and Hove City Council, ask questions and make suggestions.

In Denmark, where the idea of such councils started more than 30 years ago, older people are used to having a say on their community's services and policies.

Senior citizen councils, which started as voluntary organisations more than 30 years ago, became a statutory requirement throughout Denmark in 1995.

Kristian Riis, who is general secretary of OS, a Danish national organisation caring for older people, has urged people in Brighton and Hove to get involved and make the most of the opportunities to improve their lives.

He said: "These councils are the way to empower older people. They now have a right to be heard.

"I would prefer it if older people didn't need to have a special council but they have been discriminated against in the past and have been outside active society. This is the way to make them active and to recognise them as part of the community. They are taxpayers, have experience and lots of skills. The councils give them a voice.

"They are a supplement to local democracy - older people have a right to a dialogue.

"The councils give them the possibility to put forward their own ideas. The local authority has to take seriously what the senior citizen council says and to give answers."

He said through the senior citizen councils, older people had an established network to try to make changes and voice concerns.

For example, in Denmark, they are consulted about transport issues and can have an influence on funding priorities in communities.

They can complain about personal home care or nursing home standards.

Some councils have even initiated housing developments for the elderly.

Mr Riis met a group of Brighton and Hove councillors and older people who visited Denmark in March last year to study the country's set up before adapting the system for themselves.

The four-day visit to Copenhagen was a memorable inspiration for many of the visitors, including Paul Martin, pictured.

Gerry Kielty, the city council's lead councillor for adult services, was struck by the cultural differences between the way the Danish and the English treated their older citizens. He said: "The Danish treat them with dignity and pride. They treat them like adults.

"At one sheltered scheme and day centre we visited there was a bar and snooker tables. It was wonderful. Here we pat them on the head and give them a cup of tea.

"Denmark has much to teach us. They look at old age differently and, through their councils, show us how to value older people long after retirement.

"Our older people have got so much ability to put into our communities. There is an untapped reservoir of experience and skills.

"At the moment, we are denying them their full input into our communities. I hope the Brighton and Hove scheme is a success as a pilot and it becomes law in this country to have older people's councils."

Organisers hope more than 2,000 people will attend the conference to celebrate the lives of older people in the city. All people living in the city who are aged over 60 and attend are invited to vote.

The newly-elected council will fulfil a shadow role until the next city council elections in 2003, when a second election will take place using a proper electoral roll.

The city is waiting to see what changes grey power will bring to Brighton and Hove.