Swindon Council will sink altogether if it does not get its house in order.

Its social services department is already spiralling out of control. Not that we did not know about that already, of course, thanks to Government inspectors rating it one of the worst performing in the country.

Except now its spending rates are threatening to force the council to overspend its budget, leaving its reserves in deficit.

This is worrying for everyone, of course, and for those relying on social services, it is dire.

The situation is getting critical and it appears the council is stuck in a vicious and dangerous circle where no obvious answer is apparent.