DEFEATED Labour council chiefs in Southampton will face party members tonight to explain their election disaster amid accusations of internal fighting.

The meeting comes as the race to replace ousted leader June Bridle is understood to have boiled down to two contenders.

The crunch decision will officially be made on Monday night but is expected to be settled during horsetrading this week.

Councillor Richard Williams, who narrowly retained his Woolston seat, is favourite with deputy leader councillor Jacqui Rayment also a candidate. Both were unavailable to discuss their prospects.

However, party members will have a chance to voice a preference tonight and reflect on why Labour lost four of its six seats up for re-election as the Tories swept back to power after 24 years.

Some Labour councillors privately accuse group leaders of targeting resources on too few seats in a bid to save Cllr Bridle from the axe in Sholing.

They say "control freakery" at the top had harmed the campaign which had descended into "civil war" over the future of the local party as it became clear Cllr Bridle was vulnerable.

In a post election memo seen by the Echo Cllr Rayment warned councillors to stop fighting amongst each other and to refocus on winning back the trust of the electorate.

"I hope that we see an end to the nastiness that has gone on and we can quickly move on," she told councillors.

Labour lost previously safe seats in Redbridge and Bargate where councillors Dennis Harryman and John Noon were ousted. An 18-year-old Tory, David Fuller, took a Labour seat in Bitterne.

Mr Noon declined to wade into the leadership race but acknowledged: "There is always time for change."

Tories gained eight seats with 48 per cent of the vote to claim a majority in the chamber.

Cllr Bridle declined to comment on the campaign strategy or her successor.

Lib Dems, who lost three seats, swiftly moved to install councillor Jill Baston as leader on Saturday - two days after councillor Adrian Vinson was ousted from the post at the polls.