One in four English councils believe they are likely to be forced to apply for a bailout to avoid bankruptcy in the next two years, a stark survey of council chief executives has revealed today.

Four in 10 told the Local Government Association (LGA) survey, which has been published as senior officers and councillors gather for the organisation's annual conference in Harrogate, they were likely to apply for exceptional financial support (EFS) in 2027-28 without additional government funding.