The Christmas Tree Festival at Worcester Cathedral has been cancelled due to the county being placed under tier 3 coronavirus restrictions.

The opening day of the festival was on December 5 and it was due to run until Sunday, January 3, but it will no longer continue as the cathedral has had to shut its doors again.

A spokeswoman for Worcester Cathedral said: "We are sorry to tell you that due to the new tier 3 restrictions in Worcester, the cathedral will be closed for general visiting and therefore the Christmas Tree display in the cloister will also be closed.

"Tickets will no longer be valid for entry to see the trees from Thursday, December 31 2020 to Sunday, January 3 2021.

"Thank you for your support to date and and we look forward to welcoming you to the cathedral when we are able to open for visiting."

The popular festival takes place at the cathedral every year, with trees lining all four sides of Worcester Cathedral’s medieval cloister.

During the festival, local businesses, charities, organisations and schools provide themed Christmas trees highlighting their work within the community.

The new tier three restrictions for Worcestershire ban households from mixing indoors and outdoors, but up to six people could meet in outdoor spaces such as parks or public gardens.

Pubs and restaurants will all have to close except for those offering a takeaway or delivery service.

Indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys, soft play areas and bingo halls will all be forced to close.

If you are a local business, charity, organisation or schools, and would like to hear how to receive an invite next year to enter the December 2021 event, to design and decorate a tree to be displayed as part of a glittering avenue of trees in the Cathedral's medieval Cloister, visit bit.ly/2MqLsLX