BRUTAL Tory cuts forced local authorities to slash their spending on public libraries by £66 million last year, Labour said yesterday.

There has been a squeeze on paid staff and branches for the seventh year running with new figures showing that total expenditure fell from £919m in 2015-16 to £853m in 2016-17.

Staff numbers fell by 5 per cent (869) — while the use of unpaid library volunteers increased — and there are now 105 fewer libraries, according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).