COUNCILS across England, Scotland and Wales are facing financial collapse with a collective black hole of £4 billion after more than a decade of Tory government cuts and austerity.

Public-sector union Unison, which represents hundreds of thousands of council workers, says the deficit is “way beyond” previous estimates and is likely to mean “massive cuts” to jobs and vital services.

The union’s report, Councils on the Brink, says that the worst-hit local authorities are Hampshire County Council (£132 million deficit), Bradford City Council (£126m), Birmingham City Council (£119m), Somerset Council (£104m) and Leicester City Council (£90m).