The Tories are predicted to lose just 250 council seats on Thursday as Rishi Sunak is set to escape an election drubbing.
Senior party figures had feared up to 1,000 of their councillors would be ousted in the PM’s first big electoral test.
But latest forecasts show the party’s losses could be limited to just a couple of hundred seats.
Electoral Calculus, which is a member of the British Polling Council, predicts the Tories will forfeit 258 council seats and finish the night with a total of 3,043 in the areas contested.
According to its forecast, Labour is on course to gain 408 councillors, leaving it with a total of 2,487.
When the seats were last contested in 2019, Theresa May had a catastrophic night losing 1,330 councillors.
A Labour source told the Mirror: “The Conservatives are pushing at an open door with the number of seats they can win back from independents on Thursday.
“Given the disastrous night they had last time, we're expecting them to pick up councils like Tendring and Uttlesford.
“If they fail to make gains from Theresa May's disastrous results, Rishi Sunak is in real trouble.”
The Tories may actually gain majority control of several councils including Basingstoke and Deane, Castle Point, Mid Devon, North Kesteven and Rochford.
However, they are set to lose control of up to nine in places such as Amber Valley, Cannock Chase, Dover, Medway, North East Derbyshire and Pendle.
Labour is hoping to make gains in Blackpool, Derby, Plymouth, Sheffield and South Ribble.
A total of 8,141 council seats are up for grabs in 230 councils across England.
There are no elections in Scotland and Wales - but there are council elections in Northern Ireland on 18 May.
What is the main issue you will be voting on this year? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
There are also four mayoral elections in England.
The local elections will also be the first time in England when voters are forced to show photo ID at polling stations under controversial new rules.
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