LABOUR has been given hope over retaining a key seat in Southampton, new research has shown.

Recent polling has shown the two main parties absolutely neck-and-neck as they head into the election battle, with Tories topping eight surveys to Labour's seven in the first few days of this month.

But the polls, run by former Tory treasurer Lord Ashcroft, suggest Labour have gained eight points, meaning it would comfortably hold Southampton Itchen if the results were repeated on May 7.

The seat, held by outgoing MP John Denham, was won by a margin of just 192 in the 2010 election.

Labour has put Rowenna Davis up against Conservative Royston Smith, who ran against Mr Denham in 2010.

Eleanor Bell is running for the Liberal Democrats while Kim Rose is representing UKIP and John Spottiswode is running for the Green Party.

Lord Ashcroft said: “Even with only just over seven weeks to go, it is important to remember that these polls are still snapshots, not predictions. As other polling suggests, and as we know from my focus groups, the situation is fluid, with many undecided or in a dilemma.''