LABOUR leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn spoke to hundreds of supporters in Hampshire last night.

He spoke to 700 people at the Hilton hotel at the Ageas Bowl, days before voting closes in the contest to succeed Ed Miliband.

When he first entered the contest, his nomination beating the deadline by under two minutes, he was seen as the outsider.

However most polls now tip him to beat Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham when the party's next leader is announced on September 12.

Last night demand for spaces outstripped supply with 1,000 people applying for 700 places to hear him outline his vision.

There has been a surge in applications to vote in the race since Mr Corbyn, 66, entered the race and he received a rapturous welcome when he made his way into the hall to speak, saying: "what we are doing is opening up a democratic process, opening up our party and our movement, opening up our grassroots".

Saying the recession was not the fault of the last Labour Government, he said it was down to a "lack of banking regulation, the cowboy approach of the leaders of the banks and the sub-prime mortgage system" but also said the last Labour Government had started some austerity measures and that the party had looked to continue the approach under Ed Miliband.

He said his economic alternative, which has been criticised by some leadership rivals, was a strategy that "starts from the principle that the function of Government is just a book-balancing exercise, which is important, but it's about making sure everyone in our society has the things they need and the opportunities they deserve."

When asked by the Chronicle about what he would offer to voters on the South Coast, he said: "What we are offering is investment particularly in housing and returning some powers to the local authorities.

"It's also important that we change the attitude towards theeducation system and we will offer a greater focus on a fully-inclusive NHS and adult social care."

He added:"There was a low turnout at the election and theConservatives got elected on 24 per democratic approach rather than what the Tories are doing.

"There are exciting times ahead, watch this space."

One man, who stewards said was a campaigner for an English parliament who had pretended to be a member of the press, was ushered out of the hall after he attempted to question Mr Corbyn after the event.