A SUBDUED Tory Party Conference came to its early conclusion in the resort on Wednesday, as the events of September 11 and the subsequent aftermath cast a sombre shadow over the occasion.

With Parliament's recall on Monday (Oct 8) and the absence of many overseas delegates, it was a very different and last-minute programme of events that took place at the Winter Gardens this year.

However, feedback from the event has been largely positive and optimistic, both for Blackpool and the new team of Tories.

The event's main conference organiser, Shirley Matthews, said: "It was a very successful conference and there were around 9,000 in attendance, which is only 1,000 down from what we normally expect.

"People were very happy to be in Blackpool. I would also like to praise and thank Lancashire Constabulary who were brilliant throughout the event."

Of the venue itself she replied: "It is coming along really well. It is such a beautiful building and deserves the care and respect it is being shown."

Executive general manager of the Winter Gardens, Michael Williams, said he had received "many favourable comments regarding the refurbishment of the building, and the tented exhibition centre in the Olympia room also went down well."

The party organisers and delegates also commented how pleased they were that the conference had managed to take place.

Conference officer Margaret Roffay said: "We were extremely gratified to see the conference actually here at last. The mood was more subdued than usual, but we have had a lot of positive responses about the event in general and the importance of it taking place."

Blackpool Conservative leader Coun Peter Callow, said: "It was important that it came to Blackpool as it ensures that such terrorist acts as were seen on September 11 haven't won."

Conservative MP for Fylde Michael Jack told the Citizen: "I think it went as well as one would expect under the circumstances. The party showed a full awareness and support for the Government in their commitment to anti-terrorism."

"Tourism in the resort wasn't too badly affected by the fall in numbers. The general manager of Blackpool's De Vere Hotel, Peter Wright, said: "We have had a fall out of about 15 per cent in our reservations which isn't bad."

A spokesman for The Imperial Hotel added: "We have had to re-schedule quite a lot of events and bookings. But we have been very busy on the whole."