Controversial proposals to axe thousands of jobs from benefits centres were condemned by a powerful Commons committee led by a Bradford MP.

Terry Rooney, a Labour backbencher, said service to the unemployed had been "truly appalling" since the Government starting closing Jobcentres and replacing them with call centres.

MPs on the all-party Work and Pensions Select Committee said the decision to ask claimants to ring call centres that could not cope with the demand had been "catastrophic" for people on the dole.

They said the Department for Work and pensions should slow the pace of job losses - backing a recent campaign by unions against the closure programme.

Mr Rooney, who represents Bradford North, said: "Getting those able to work off benefits and into jobs is vital for the health of our society. Yet Jobcentre Plus has lost focus on its core purpose.

"In their drive for efficiency, the government has caused a serious failure in customer service, staffing, procurement and IT.

"The Secretary of State John Hutton himself has described the agency as being faced with a 'shed load of difficulties' and the committee agrees. The measures taken to resolve these problems are neither sustainable, nor robust.

"The department shouldn't try to run before it can walk and must do its utmost to ensure future improvements are less risky, less costly and ultimately, have a higher chance of success."

The committee also strongly criticised a decision by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to test a new system for applying for crisis loans.

This "condemned" people already let down by call centres to wait for up to three hours outside phone boxes.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS (Public and Commercial Services) union, said: "The DWP cannot continue with its denial about the problems facing Jobcentre Plus by burying its head in the sand."