CHILDREN and youth services have been devastated by the Tories “systematically and deliberately” underfunding councils, Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said today.

She told the union’s local government conference that nearly two fifths of English council-run children centres and youth centres have closed due to funding cuts since 2010.

“The loss of so many facilities, so much expert staff has put teenagers at serious risk,” she said, warning the situation will get worse as town halls continue to struggle with bankruptcy.