AFTER a 24-year absence the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is returning to Bournemouth for its annual conference this autumn.

The Congress, which unites representatives of 54 affiliated unions and attracts 4,000 delegates, was last held in the resort in 1988.

TUC campaigns and events officer Gemma Tumelty said: “This is the key event in our calendar and we are looking forward to returning to Bourne-mouth.”

BH Live head of venues Steve Piper said the five-day conference at the BIC in Sept-ember would inject an estimated £5.8million into the local economy.

He added: “We are absolutely delighted that the TUC has decided to bring their Congress and delegates back.”