PRIME Minister Gordon Brown enjoyed an hour's respite from constant election speculation at the conference's official church service.

A barrage of questions as to whether he intended to call a snap poll marked Mr Brown's entry and exit from the Punshon Memorial Methodist Church yesterday.

But Mr Brown ignored reporters' demands and instead happily chatted to children from the Second Bournemouth Punshon Brigade.

Ten-year-old Joe Cook, of Southbourne, said: "He asked me if I liked football and where I played so I said centre midfield.

"He also wanted to know who I support and I told him West Ham. He seemed really nice."

Bettina Rogers, 14, and Chana Gosden, 15, also met Mr Brown and sat in front of him at the church service.

Chana, of Charminster, said: "He seemed very relaxed and sung very loudly in church. His accent was stronger than I thought it would be."

And Bettina, of Pokesdown, said: "I thought he was nice. He asked how we were and shook our hands. His hands were really cold."

Mr Brown chose and read the lesson in church, which was the Beatitudes from the gospel according to Matthew.

The Rev Bob McKinley said: "The theme of the service was about justice for the poor and this fit in perfectly.

"We remembered the conference in our prayers, but we try to offer worship that the party can join in rather than make it peculiar to them.

"It's an opportunity for them to join the local congregation in their worship. We try to give them a bit of normality and peace and quiet as they begin their conference," he added.

It could be the last hour of peace Mr Brown gets this week as his refusal to rule out the possibility of calling a snap poll has only fuelled speculation in the media.

A recent opinion poll has given Mr Brown a strong six-point lead over David Cameron and the Conservatives. He will make his first conference speech as leader this afternoon (Monday).