A SERIES of election pledges will be unveiled today by Tony Blair as the Labour Party spring conference gets under way in the North-East amid tight security.

The pledges will include guarantees on the national minimum wage and help for first-time property buyers, with the party unveiling its pledge card at the three-day conference which starts today at The Sage, on the Gateshead side of the Tyne.

Police urged shoppers to stay away as demonstrators converge on the conference.

But thousands of protestors will be allowed to demonstrate on the Newcastle Quayside, opposite the showcase building.

Fathers 4 Justice - responsible for stunts including the Batman protest at Buckingham Palace - the Countryside Alliance and the Stop the War Coalition are among those staging events.

Roads have been closed, along with the Swing Bridge, and a stretch of the Tyne will be closed to boats.

Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria David Warcup said: "We will be advising people to stay away from the area - not because we think there will be violence or any problems but because it will be so busy.

"It is probably one of the biggest operations we have run."

The Countryside Alliance is holding a protest march through Newcastle today, between 11am and 3pm, ending at Wesley Square.

Richard Dodd, regional director, said: "We are expecting good numbers - thousands. They are coming from as far as Essex and Birmingham. The whole aim is to knock Labour off the front page because they will use the conference as an election address."

Tyneside Stop the War Coalition will hold a candelit peace vigil early tonight at St Mary's Place, near St Thomas's Church, and will hold a rally on the Quayside tomorrow afternoon.

Fathers 4 Justice will march to the Quayside tomorrow and regional co-ordinator Mick Kelly said no stunt had been planned, but added: "Maybe somebody might surprise. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Mr Warcup said: "We are trying to give people a site where they can exercise their right to protest.

"We are not worried about Fathers 4 Justice. If people come along and do these stunts, then we will deal with them appropriately.

"Policing will be as normal on Tyneside, so there will be no detriment to the rest of the area.

"We think if there are difficulties, it will be from a rogue element. Neither they, nor we, can anticipate what they are going to do."

George Cowcher, chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, said: "This is a well-planned conference and everyone has had months to put measures in place to minimise the impact of this weekend.

"The hospitality and catering industry are the big winners from the event because the hotels are packed and restaurants will be in heavy demand. The conference will act as a showcase of the beauty and appeal of the North-East, and in the medium to long-term we will all reap the benefits."

Newcastle city centre manager David Usher said traders did not appear to be anticipating disruption to their trade and that February was generally considered a quiet month anyway.

He said: "People are quite resilient. If they want to come shopping this weekend, they will."