PEOPLE are being urged to get their Christmas tree ordered or face the risk of being without a festive centrepiece, according to a garden boss.

Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk is expecting to see demand soar this year but says a shortage of lorry drivers and potential Covid restrictions could play havoc with Christmas preparations.

Lorry driver shortages in Denmark are expected to impact imports to the UK with any Covid related restrictions further adding to the problems.

He’s also expecting a surge in demand after last year's muted celebrations as families and friends celebrate the festivities together.

Denmark is a major producer of live Christmas trees with around 90 per cent of its crop exported to other European nations.

Last year it faced problems after it halted export in an attempt to control a coronavirus mutation found on mink farms.

Now the shortage of drivers in Denmark could affect the distribution of Christmas trees across Europe.

With less than 100 days until Christmas, Bonnett is already seeing a jump in the number of customers searching for Christmas trees on his site despite the Christmas range not yet fully live.

He said: “The last few years have played havoc with the Christmas tree market. Mild winters in Scandinavian countries have made it more complicated to fell trees. Add in the Covid restrictions in place last year and the current shortage of lorry drivers and you can see why we’re concerned that there could be a shortage of trees.

“A Christmas tree is an essential part of the festivities, not just on Christmas Day but in the run up - picking the tree, squeezing it into the car and decorating ahead of the celebrations.

“This year it’ll mean even more after the locked down restrictions of last year which is why we’re already seeing a surge in the number of customers searching for Christmas trees.

“Hopefully between now and December, things will improve.”

Bonnett added: “We are seeing issues with disruption across the retail sector, from food and drink to gifts and clothing.

“For Britons really wanting to go all out to celebrate this year, the best advice is to plan ahead and get all the essentials pre-ordered so you can enjoy the festivities without the stress.”