Britain faces a Christmas tree shortage for years to come after the hottest summer on record kills thousands of young firs

Oliver Combe, 57, who has worked at York Christmas Trees for four decades, lost around 2,000 of his 15,000 newly planted trees after no proper rain fell since Easter. At Sutton Hall Farm near Lewes, East Sussex, James Wallis saw 20,000 trees that had gone in the ground two years ago perish, and growers caution the damage will keep compounding because trees take eight years to reach maturity.

Clive Collins, owner of Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm in East Sussex, says a late May frost also damaged older tree buds, cutting growth further.

Fewer imports are arriving this year due to lorry driver shortages and soaring fuel costs, pushing buyers toward dwindling domestic stocks.

'Very, very hot summers are becoming the norm,' Combe warns, adding he is now planning irrigation for the first time in four decades.