Gillian Duffy congratulates the new Labour leader

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.