FORMER Tory leader William Hague today claimed his party had made a breakthrough in the key electoral battlegrounds of northern England - despite failures in some of their top targets.

Mr Hague said victories in Chester and South Ribble were the start of a ''Conservative revival''.

The shadow foreign secretary said: ''These elections show that the Conservative party is back in business in the North.

''We have taken control of Chester and South Ribble and made significant advances in Bury, Crewe and Nantwich, Preston, Sunderland, Barrow and many others.

''And we are on course to have control of more councils than Labour in the North West.

''This is the beginning of the Conservative revival in the north of England.'' But Mr Hague's comments were mocked by the Labour Party, with a spokesman saying he ''should perhaps spend a little more time on the campaign trail and a little less time on the lecture circuit'' if he was convinced the results were a breakthrough.

Labour Party chair Hazel Blears told the BBC: ''I think you do have to look across the country. Look at Bolton, Bury, Barrow and Crewe.

''Just a couple of days ago David Cameron was saying they had to make gains in Bolton and Bury otherwise they won't be breaking through in the North.

''I think this is a really serious issue.'' As Prime Minister Tony Blair's term in office draws to a close, the expected rough ride for Labour prompted an outbreak of soul-searching from contenders in the leadership and deputy leadership contests.

Deputy leadership contender Jon Cruddas said the party's expected electoral battering should act as a ''wake-up call''.

He said: ''This must act as a wake up call for Labour. We urgently need to address the collapse of the party on the ground and the breakdown in our relationship with the electorate. The two things are connected.

''Everything relates back to the need to rebuild our party and renew our sense of purpose and direction.'' Leadership hopeful Michael Meacher said: ''The election results, though not as bad as predicted, are a warning to Labour.

''We must take the hint from voters. Labour can still win the next general election, but there is an indisputable need to change direction.'' In Scotland, SNP leader Alex Salmond celebrated winning his seat in the Scottish Parliament by saying a ''wind of change'' was blowing through the country.

But Labour deputy leadership candidate Harriet Harman said the elections in Scotland should not be seen as a referendum on Gordon Brown.

She told Sky News: ''I didn't sense that people were making a judgment on Gordon Brown, I think they were making a judgment on our Government's record.'' Sir Menzies Campbell's chief of staff, Ed Davey, said the Liberal Democrats had experienced some ''mixed results''.

He told the BBC: ''We've seen gains in places like Hull, Rochdale and Eastbourne. So mixed results, yes we are falling back in some places but making gains in others".

Tory vice-chairman Grant Shapps told the BBC it was ''so far so good'' for David Cameron's party. He said: ''We are winning right across the country''.

In Wales, First Minister Rhodri Morgan held his Cardiff West seat and predicted Labour would be ''by far'' the biggest party in the Assembly.