A bridge linking two Brighton hotels to keep the city moving during the Labour party conference.

The 18ft-high walkway will allow delegates to safely walk from the Metropole Hotel to the Grand Hotel.

It will enable Cannon Place to remain open to traffic, allowing cars to leave Churchill Square car parks during the conference, which runs from September 30 to October 4.

Preparations for the conference, which is being hosted by The Grand, Metropole and Brighton Centre, have started despite initial uncertainty over whether it would take place after the terrorist attacks in America.

Up to 25,000 visitors are expected to travel to Brighton for the event.

There will be one-way traffic only south of Russell Road, from September 17 and Russell Road car park will close on September 28 until the end of the conference. The bridge will be dismantled on October 7.

City councillor Ian Duncan said: "This is part of a commitment to try to keep the city running as smoothly as possible during conference.

"Security arrangements are tight, mainly in an area close to the Brighton Centre and people should not be put off coming to Brighton because everywhere else is business as usual."

September 18 2001