New research by the BBC has revealed that at least 25,000 jobs will be under threat over the next five years as local authorities across England face having to reduce spending.

A survey of all English councils conducted by BBC English Regions revealed that more than 70 per cent predict cutting public expenditure by between five and 20 per cent by 2015 to meet budget shortfalls. The study was sent to all 150 English top tier and single tier authorities - such as county councils, unitary authorities and metropolitan and London boroughs - and received 93 responses, with an overall response rate of 62 per cent.

A total of 62 councils were prepared to offer a view on the services that would be most vulnerable as part of efforts to cut expenditure, with leisure facilities, arts and culture and libraries considered to be most at risk. While the majority of councils were less willing to forecast possible job losses, eight authorities - Leeds, City of Bradford, Kirklees, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Surrey - suggested that more than 1,000 positions may have to go by 2015.

Tony Travers, director of the Greater London group at the London School of Economics, told the BBC: "The scale of job reductions... suggests tens of thousands of posts are likely to be lost... it seems likely there will be a sharp cut in council jobs in 2010 and for some years after." The findings of the BBC English Regions survey comes as Nottinghamshire County Council revealed that it would be scaling back funding to some leisure and cultural organisations as part of its budget for the forthcoming year.

According to the council, a "few" sports clubs are set to receive reduced grant funding, while Nottingham Playhouse will be awarded less support. Cafés and shops at the council's country parks will close for six weeks during the winter season in a bid to save £145,000. Birmingham City Council – the largest local authority in England – has also recently announced plans to axe 2,000 jobs in a bid to meet a £75m funding deficit. Many of the earmarked redundancies are understood to be in sports, culture and leisure.