People have been warned to buy their real Christmas trees as early as possible amid fears of a shortage this festive season - and they are set to be more expensive than ever.
Experts said the supply of trees has been hit by a "perfect storm" of political and environmental issues ranging from supply chain issues to a drought in 2018 affecting younger saplings that should now be ready. The most impacted sizes are the best-selling six-footers - these are expected to be more scarce than usual, meaning prices are likely to be higher than previous years.
Record summer temperatures this year have also reduced the number of trees likely to be available. The heatwave led many trees to shed leaves early this year in what some commentators described as a ‘false autumn’.
