DEFEATED Southampton parliamentary candidate Rowenna Davis has revealed she is “heartbroken” after losing out in the general election.

Ms Davis, Labour's Southampton Itchen candidate, was beaten by Conservative Royston Smith by more than 2,000 votes after a hard-fought campaign.

The hotly-contested battle went down to the wire and polls indicated Ms Davis was in the lead heading into the election on Thursday, but Mr Smith, who lost to John Denham in 2010, was “ecstatic” following his victory.

She left the count on Friday morning without speaking to the media, but has now posted a message thanking supporters.

In it, she said: “There is a time in politics for humility, and this is it.

“Although I'm heartbroken we lost, I want to offer my congratulations to Royston Smith, who won in a fair fight.

“But the result aside, I wanted everyone to know that I'm so proud and grateful for the campaign we ran here together.”

She said she was proud of achievements including campaigning to keep the Bitterne Walk-in Centre open, working for a new children's playground in Bitterne Precinct, and helping to secure a pay rise for staff at Southampton Solent University.

And despite the painful defeat she reiterated her commitment to rebuilding the Labour Party and thanked volunteers for their help.

She said: “I can't tell you how many good friends I have made on this campaign that will outlive the result.

“I have learnt so much and couldn't have asked for better support.”