by Vanessa Baffoe

A Kent farmer has warned of a major shortage of Christmas trees this year.

Families are being urged to buy their Christmas trees early as there may be a limited supply of real trees later in the month.

Retailers say prices have soared this year, with the credit crunch pushing up the cost of real specimens from Denmark.

Martin Clews, owner of Stonepitts Farm in Sevenoaks, said: “I and many others predict there is going to be a serious shortage this year, particularly with the taller trees, which themselves are scarce.

“The value of the pound has weakened against the Euro and particularly the Danish Kroner, where the bulk of Nordman Firs comes from - so retailers are paying much more for the trees and are therefore more worried about losing money.”

He said sellers were limiting their stock, amid fears they will be left with loads of unwanted trees.

He added: “The advantage of being a grower like me is that whilst I do import the large trees from Denmark, I can pull them out of the field as and when. If you’re a high street shop you have to order them and you are stuck with that order.”

Mr Clews also revealed many of Christmas trees which grow in the UK, normally from Scotland and Northern Ireland, are being largely sent to countries such as France and Germany where they are more popular.