Among the audience for Ed Miliband's big speech was Gillian Duffy, the Rochdale woman whose encounter with his predecessor Gordon Brown was one of the low-points of Labour's election campaign.

Mr Miliband picked Mrs Duffy out of the crowd for a handshake and a chat as he left the stage following his address.

Their meeting was a more amicable affair than the Labour-supporting pensioner's exchange with Mr Brown - after which the former Prime Minister notoriously branded her "bigoted", unaware his microphone was still live.

Mrs Duffy has attended the Labour conference as the guest of a TV company, and spoke briefly with Mr Miliband over the weekend.

Mrs Duffy told Mr Miliband his speech had been "very good, very good - smashing", according to ITV News. He replied: "Thank you. I look forward to seeing you."

Speaking to ITV News after the speech, she added: "He's lovely. He's young and we need someone young to get us going again. I thought he came across really well. From Saturday until now he's really matured again. He's really giving himself to the conference. I think we'll win next time."

Asked whether Mr Miliband appeared to agree with her on immigration - on which she famously questioned Mr Brown - Mrs Duffy said: "Most probably yes, it was very good."

His staff said he was still hoping to have the time to fit in a cup of tea with her before the conference ends on Thursday.