The conference will hear from Tony Blair on Friday

A ring of steel was thrown around the Guildhall in the civic centre ahead of the prime minister's rallying cry to supporters on Friday.

Mr Blair was in Swansea in a question and answer session with readers of the city's Evening Post newspaper.

About 800 people are expected at the conference, which finishes on Saturday.

The event ends just a couple of hours before Wales' grand slam decider against Ireland in Cardiff.

Roads were blocked all around the Guildhall, and seasoned Welsh political observers believed no other party conference had been subject to such stringent security.

Restrictions were so tight that the office where the media were due to collect their passes was within the security cordon.

We haven't secured victory yet. We must go into this election with humility Ian McCartney

That meant some journalists were not allowed through by police to collect their passes, which had to be picked up by Labour Party officials.

Inside the conference hall, party chairman Ian McCartney urged activists to "reconnect our Labour values with our supporters' aspirations"

Mr McCartney said having a good record and the right policies was not enough. "We need to earn a victory," he said.

He also told party members they could take Gordon Brown's budget "on to the doorstep with confidence".

"And when we are on the doorstep let's ask voters a question - would you rather have Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin or Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in charge of your country and your economy?" he said.

"We know what the answer will be. But we haven't secured victory yet. We must go into this election with humility.