by Jackie Storer BBC News politics reporter, in Brighton

Some conference attendees just can't resist a freebie..

Feeling peckish? Well, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers will rustle you up a crepe.

Nowhere to store your writing equipment? The shop workers' union Usdaw will provide a pencil case - and balloons, furry bugs, a bottle opener and scribbling pads.

The exhibition halls at this year's Labour Party conference in Brighton are a veritable paradise for the freebie fanatic.

Almost without exception, the stands which try to inform delegates about the important works of charities, lobby groups, unions and even the Falkland Islands have something to give away.

Most of the freebies carry logos, website addresses and telephone numbers.

Ice scrapers and fans

They are unique, predominantly colourful and eye-catching.

But they are also largely useless.

They do make nice little presents for the children A delegate

However, as one canny delegate, loaded down with goodies put it: "They do make nice little presents for the children."

For Stephen Burke, chief executive of Counsel and Care, which provides advice and help for older people, the trinkets play a more important role.

"When people go away with our pens and pencils, they are also taking our message with them, whereas once a free sweet is eaten, the message is gone," he said.

If you get people to the stand, you can talk to them and also hand them some leaflets John Youd Usdaw

Round at the Met Office stall, handy car ice scrapers, battery-operated fans, pens and sweets with the website address are on offer.

The NSPCC has keyfobs and a wristband carrying the charity's Full Stop campaign logo, to prevent child cruelty.

There are badges with obscure pictures and abstract messages. And magazines in a recycled bag from Dod's Parliamentary Communications.

A pocket, pop-out flying disc is being handed out by Cancer Research UK. "Being physically active can reduce the risk of cancer," says the charity's Nikki Pope.

Not freebies - but the League Against Cruel Sports foxes are still popular

The Falkland Islands representatives hopes badges, pens, notebooks and bookmarks will help get people interested in their far away land.

"It is also a good opportunity to dispel some of the myths like we are always under snow, or that we are still bartering," says legislative councillor Jan Cheek.

Shopper's aid

The smell of cooking filters over from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers stand. Here 300 free sweet or savoury pancakes are being cooked up each day.

"It's about our recipe for education," says external relations officer Cara Griffith, who also hands over a bottle of water and a stress ball.

"It's really a way of getting people on the stand so we can inform them about what we do as a trade union," she says.

It's a gimmick really - it gives people something to remember us by Steve Harman IT Through Work

Usdaw finance officer John Youd has to offer carrier bags with the amount of goodies being pillaged from his stall.

"If you get people to the stand, you can talk to them and also hand them some leaflets," he said.

"The notebooks are great for shopping lists," pipes up one passing delegate.

Off to the joint Greater London Authority, Transport for London and London Development Agency stand, and punters are being asked to work a bit harder for a freebie.

If they get all the answers right in an interactive competition, their reward is a blue, red and green umbrella.

At Age Concern, a similar method is being implemented. Take part in their survey about whether people should retire at 65, and one receives as iced cup cake.

For turning up at the IT Through Work exhibit, visitors receive a natty little yoyo.

As sales director Steve Harman sums it up: "It's a gimmick really - it gives people something to remember us by."