Labour has defied expectations to secure a number of councils in southern England, amid signs of declines in Conservative support in the region.

Key battleground councils including Southampton, Crawley, and Hastings were all held by Labour despite concerns that Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership may have disillusioned swing voters outside of the party's traditional heartlands in the North of England and Wales.

Analysis by the BBC indicated the Conservative vote declined in the south of England, contributing to Labour’s stronger-than-expected performance.

The results will be a glimmer of hope for the party, which has suffered bruising defeats in Scotland, where it looks set to become the third party, and also saw a net loss of around 30 council seats in England.

Deputy leader Tom Watson said the results in local government, particularly in the South, were “definitely cause for comfort” for Labour.

“Yes these were local government elections with local conditions but these are still going to be the electoral battlegrounds in the general elections,” he said.

In Southampton, Labour lost two seats, but gained another two from the Conservatives to retain control of the council. In Crawley, the party increased its majority from one to two, and in Hastings, comfortably held control without decreasing its majority.

Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Show all 10 1 /10 Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon waves after winning her seat Glasgow Southside in the Scottish Parliament elections at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow Getty Images Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon embraces Margaret Ferrier (L), and Janet Doris (R) as her husband Bob Doris (unseen) speaks to the audience at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow EPA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts as results come in at a Scottish Parliament election count at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Labour Party members celebrate after David Burton Sampson (centre) wins the Labour seat for St Martin's ward during the election count for Basildon at the Sports Village in Basildon, Essex PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, who failed in her bid to win the Edinburgh Eastern constituency from the SNP, at the count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is congratulated after she won the Edinburgh Central seat at the count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson speaks after winning the Edinburgh Central seat at the count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson arrives at a Scottish Parliament election count at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Renfrewshire PA Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in SNP supporters react as their party wins another seat at a counting centre in Glasgow Reuters Elections 2016: Agony and ecstasy for candidates as results pour in Vaughan Gething of Labour retains his seat for Cardiff South and Penarth during the National Assembly for Wales election count at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff, Wales Getty Images

Labour had been predicted by independent experts to lose up to 150 council seats, but the strong performance in the South of England has helped it defy the bleaker projections.

2016 Election results round-up

Peter Lamb, leader of Crawley Borough Council said: “It’s hard not to feel like you’re going to lose a seat when you’re being told by everyone you’re going to lose it.