Labour's 2006 annual conference will be held in Manchester, the party has confirmed.

The move will be seen as a snub for Blackpool, which had been hoping to host the event.

Party chairman Ian McCartney said the decision was "great news for the North West".

Easing the loss for Blackpool, it was also announced that the smaller spring conference would be held there next year.

"Following on from great recent events such as the Commonwealth Games, and Labour's spring conference in 2004, we are delighted to be coming to Manchester and this shows the city has joined the list of great conference venues," said McCartney.

"The fact that Labour's national executive committee felt very confident in making this decision is a tribute to the renaissance and regeneration there has been in Manchester in recent years."

But he added that the party retained its "long attachment" to Blackpool - where it holds two marginal seats.

McCartney said the local council should continue working to improve the town as a conference venue.

The chairman said that "we can work together to bring the annual Labour Party conference back to Blackpool as soon as possible".