Gordon Brown's succession to the premiership remained on course last night as it emerged that an overwhelming majority of Labour MPs had formally pledged their backing.

A total of 282 of Labour's 354 MPs have nominated the Chancellor for the Labour leadership, the first official indication of support revealed.

The prospect of a left-wing challenger also looked distant with John McDonnell - the only other contender - boasting the nominations of only 27 MPs.

He will require the support of another 18 MPs if he is to win a place on the ballot paper and prevent the Chancellor's virtual coronation this week.

In the deputy leadership contest, Education Secretary Alan Johnson took an early lead with 64 nominations, followed by Justice Minister Harriet Harman with 60.

Both are assured of a place on the ballot paper along with Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain, who has 49 nominations, and party chairwoman Hazel Blears, with 48.

Backbencher Jon Cruddas, who has 44 nominations, needs to find one more before he can enter the contest.

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, with 34 nominations, needs 11 more names.

The figures are the first to be published by the Labour Party since the nomination process began on Monday, but they are all broadly in line with the expectations of candidates and observers.

Mr McDonnell, who was given a clear run from the left of the party when Michael Meacher dropped out on Monday, insisted that his nominations represented "really good progress".

He said: "It's not even half-time yet and we're over halfway in terms of nominations with some MPs out of the country and others finalising their position.

"This confirms that we're well on course for getting on the ballot paper and with this momentum we should make it."

Prime Minister Tony Blair, who pledged his support for Mr Brown's leadership bid last week, is among the Chancellor's nominees.

Mr Brown has also been nominated by a string of leading Cabinet ministers and all the deputy leadership candidates except Mr Cruddas.

On Monday, Mr McDonnell said he and Mr Meacher had gathered the backing of more than 45 MPs needed to feature on the ballot paper.

But he betrayed concern that, unless Mr Brown makes clear he is genuinely happy for there to be a contest, the "climate" may not exist within the Parliamentary Labour Party for those pledges of support to be translated into nominations.

The deadline for nominations is 12.30pm tomorrow.

Candidates who make it onto the ballot paper will take part in a series of ten hustings around the country ahead of a special conference in Manchester on June 24, when the new leader and deputy leader will be named ahead of the handover of the Prime Minister's office on June 27.