The National Trust has frozen all but essential recruitment as it faces a £10 million increase in labour costs as a result of ' autumn budget. The trust says the increased costs are being driven by the Chancellor's National Insurance hike and minimum wage increase set to come into force next month, reports .

The trust said it does not expect visitors to be affected or opening hours to change because of the budget constraints which have been exacerbated by other factors such as a squeeze on household spending, the paper reports. It is understood the trust will be limiting recruitment to business critical roles and prioritising projects that deliver significant public benefit or where there are urgent conservation needs.

The charity runs more than 500 sites across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, welcoming millions of visitors every year.

announced in her budget last year that the rate of National Insurance paid by employers would increase by 1.2 percentage points to 15% from April. The Chancellor said the rise would raise £25bn per year.

The Government says the increase in the contributions raises funds for the and increases funding for contributory benefits like the State Pension, easing wider pressures on public finances.

The minimum wage is increasing to £10 an hour up from £8.60 - the largest rise on record.

A National Trust spokesperson said: "While we firmly support fair pay for our staff, the changes to the National Living Wage and National Insurance employer's contributions are a significant increase for us to absorb. And that's not all. A combination of the cost-of-living crisis, high inflation rates and a lack of wider economic growth in the past few years has also created pressures for our operating and conservation costs.

"The National Trust is not alone in having to make tough financial choices, these are challenges the whole sector is facing. People's support - including membership and donations - has never mattered more. We are committed to continuing our vital charitable work and creating the maximum possible public benefit in everything we do."