The Labour Party conference opened with a two-minute silence in memory of the thousands killed in last month's US terrorist attacks.

In his welcoming speech, city council leader Ken Bodfish told the 3,000 delegates that life must go on as normal despite the atrocities in America.

He said the strength of our society was in its democracy and added: "We are a successful city but we have problems. I am making no special pleading but am confident the Government is tackling those problems."

Speaking earlier in the day, Tony Blair vowed the reform of public services would not be knocked off track by the atrocities.

The Prime Minister said he had spent as much time on domestic policies as he had on international matters following the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

As delegates gathered in Brighton, he pledged to push ahead with public sector reform despite opposition from unions and the Labour left-wing.

He said: "It's a huge programme of reform and after the present crisis is past, this is the thing that will dominate the next couple of years."

The international crisis kept Mr Blair away from the Labour Party conference service in the Corn Exchange, Brighton.

Fear of trouble because of the march planned by anti-capitalist and anti-war demonstrators also kept many of the children away.

Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong, who gave a reading from St John's Gospel, represented the Prime Minister as groups of children from the city led political and religious leaders to light candles of hope.