i have a strip of garden next to my path about 2ft x 20ft, its at the front of the house and i want to put in ground cover plants that are quick growing and which will suppress weeds, please help

welcome to GoY.
how about lamium [deadnettle], Vinca minor [lesser periwinkle] , snow in summer, alyssium, aubretia any of the thymes, some are very compact.

there will be many others and i am sure other members will be able to offer advice.

Im into my herbs and wildflowers at the mo, and would love a chamomile lawn, the smell is fabulous and very relaxing that would be lovely for viditors coming to your door.
not sure how it would withhold weeds but would also be an excellent sourse of herbal medicine supply
x x

was also going to mention what seaburngirl says about snow in summer
x

Some of the sedum family hug the ground...and I would absolutely go along with thyme. The bees love it when it's in flower! Evergreen and you can get variegated ones - very pretty plants.