Home Secretary David Blunkett has apologised to Brighton and Hove residents for the disruption caused by two Labour Party conferences in two years.

He made his comments as he toured the operations room at Brighton Police station to thank the officers involved in the massive security operation surrounding the conference.

He admitted he had thought of calling the conference off following the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. As Home Secretary, it was his decision.

Mr Blunkett said: "I came to the conclusion the proportion of risk was not too great to the people of Brighton and those attending.

"We had the security in place and tried to make sure it was commensurate with people in the city going about their daily lives.

"This is what we have done. I am very sorry if that balancing act has disrupted people's lives. But the security operation has gone very smoothly."

Superintendent Phil Clarke, in charge of the Silver Room operation at Brighton police station, said: "Part of the policing intention was to disrupt life in Brighton and Hove as little as possible.

"I would like to point out no roads have been closed and all car parks have remained open."

Mr Blunkett toured the operations room with his guide dog Lucy and spoke to officers manning the bank of 18 CCTV screens.

Yesterday's conference was dominated by Prime Minister Tony Blair's speech in which he vowed to bring down the entire Taliban regime unless they handed over terror warlord Osama bin Laden.

Mr Blair also promised the humanitarian response to the growing refugee crisis in Afghanistan would be every bit as well planned and thorough as the military response.

Pavilion MP David Lepper said: "The way in which the Prime Minister conveyed the sense of mission he sees the Party and the country having was quite inspiring."

He said there was a strong hint in the speech that student tuition fees would be reviewed and it also contained important passages on globalisation and the environment.

He said: "Globalisation can really be a force for good. It can improve the quality of life for people in those countries, such as Afghanistan, where quality of life is low, if we control it properly."

On the environment, Mr Lepper said: "I have never heard a stronger statement from Tony Blair about the environment and its importance, not just locally and nationally, but the global importance of the Kyoto agreement. There was quite a challenge to the United States there."

Hove MP Ivor Caplin said the Prime Minister had outlined how New Labour would deliver public service reform and it was important Mr Blair had said there were good and bad examples in the public sector and in the private sector.

Mr Caplin said: "I think it was important he set out the rationale and what public service reform means and what it does not mean. He clearly stated it does not mean privatising the NHS and schools."

In his speech, Mr Blair said Labour had a huge programme of reform for the NHS, education, criminal justice and transport.

The conference was due to be closed at lunchtime today by Dr John Reid, the Northern Ireland Secretary.