Childcare is in danger across Bradford and other areas of West Yorkshire because of savage cuts to training, Labour claimed yesterday – ahead of a key Government announcement.

Councils have slashed spending on training for nursery staff since 2010, putting quality at risk, the party said.

Bradford Council spent £781,145 on training in 2011-12, down 43.2 per cent on £1.38 million the previous year, its response to Labour’s survey revealed.

And there were big reductions at Calderdale, Kirklees and Leeds.

Stephen Twigg, Labour's education spokesman, said: “In some parts of the country, there is now no money available to train nursery staff.

"Local authorities have had to endure the deepest cuts of any area of government.”