Cameron emerges as poll winner

David Cameron's authority as Conservative leader has been boosted by Thursday's council elections.

In his first electoral test as leader, Cameron emerged as the main winner from the contests held across England.

His party picked up at least 290 extra seats and appeared set to take control of 11 more councils.

The results put the Conservatives on course for their best local election performance since they last won national power in 1992.

London proved a particular success for the Conservatives.

But there remain questions over whether Cameron has successfully boosted the party in the key Northern cities where the Tories have been hoping to re-establish themselves.

In Liverpool the party came fourth, behind the Greens.

Cameron was clearly pleased at the result but insisted he was not going to be complacent.

Speaking on Friday morning he said: "There's plenty more to do, and plenty more change to be made and work to be done, but I think this is a very important step forward.

"To gain 12 new councils, I think we've just hit the 250 mark for net gains in terms of councillors: and right here where we are in London for instance I think we've gained seven councils, which I think is far beyond what we were expecting, and a very pleasing result.

"I think that we have shown right across the board that where Labour are collapsing, we are building."

Conservative chairman Francis Maude said it had been "a good evening" for the party.

"We are continuing to build our support while Labour's melts away," he said.

"David Cameron's message of change, optimism and hope is in tune with what Britain wants today.

"Our success tonight is also down to the hard work of the councillors, candidates and campaigners on the ground."

The councils in Hastings, Chorley, Bassetlaw, Shrewsbury and Atcham, Coventry, Mole Valley and Hillingdon were among those gained from no overall control.

And Crawley, Bexley, Croydon, Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham were seized from Labour.

Gosport and West Lindsey, however, were lost to no overall control.