SOUTHAMPTON'S feuding councillors have been told to sort themselves out or John Prescott will end up running the city.

The city's leaders are just 24 hours from a vital meeting to set the council tax and if they do not do it tomorrow the government could step in and take control.

Residents have been left in limbo after civic chiefs failed to agree a budget for the first time in the city's history at a meeting last week.

They get back round the table tomorrow but the Daily Echo understands all the main parties are still poles apart from an agreement. Officially they have until March 11 to set the council tax before John Prescott's office intervenes, but Civic Centre insiders believe tomorrow may be their last chance.

Now Southampton's two MPs have called on all councillors to put aside their differences for the good of the city.

Last Wednesday's crunch budget meeting ended in stalemate with leaders of all three political parties blaming each other. The main sticking point was the Liberal Democrats' plans for fortnightly rubbish collection which has divided opinion in the city.

Civic chiefs are due to meet again tomorrow when they will try again to agree a budget.

If they cannot come up with a solution this time round, they run a serious risk of the city being run by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which is in charge of local government.

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead, a former city council leader in the 1980s, told the Daily Echo he did not blame one particular party for the failure of the council to set a budget.

He said: "There will clearly have to be some discussion. The idea that people simply set up their position and go away is not tenable. Everybody needs to take a deep breath and start again."

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham added that common sense should prevail to stop central government coming in to rule the city's affairs.

He said: "The three parties have got to find a way through this. In doing so they need to take into account the public strength of feeling on this particular issue and to make sure that is given due weight.''

Over the past six days the leaders of all three city political parties have staged a series of meetings to try to resolve the crisis.

However, according to senior figures, a deal is as far away as ever. Labour group leader June Bridle said: "I don't think the Conservatives or us are changing our position. We have not had anything from the Liberal Democrats on the table and it is the bins which is the sticking point. It is the one thing that is dividing us and we have got to find a way through the impasse."

Conservative deputy leader Royston Smith ruled out doing a deal with either the Liberal Democrats or Labour.

He said: "We are philosophically miles apart. We will not be doing any deals. Perhaps they should be looking to work together."

Council leader Adrian Vinson refused to be drawn on details of any discussions he had had with other groups. He said: "We are fully aware of the crucial importance of setting a local council tax by the due date."