Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will declare support for councils to reverse a generation of "forced privatisation" of local services, putting them back under the control of town halls, as he launches the party's campaign for May's local elections in England.

In an address to Labour's local government conference, Mr Corbyn will say he wants councils to become "public entrepreneurs" with greater freedom to spend taxpayers' money and borrow to fund investment and public services.

He will set out a vision for English councils to have similar powers to European cities, where local authorities have taken over control of utilities such as water and energy services.

The elections in May, including to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and the London mayoral contest, are being seen as a crucial test of Mr Corbyn's leadership.

He will also use his speech to insist that remaining in the European Union is in the best interests of the British people.

Mr Corbyn, who has a history of Euroscepticism, will stress that he wants to see further reforms in Brussels, including stronger workers' rights and an end to the pressure to privatise public services.

The Labour leader will vow to push for a "real social Europe" in the run-up to the vote promised by Prime Minister David Cameron.