Jack and the Beanstalk is the latest pantomime to fall to coronavirus after Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre axed the production.

The County Town's playhouse was due to welcome families in November but has now shifted the performance back a year.

It will now be staged in November 2021 for a run stretching into the new year of 2022.

In a statement released on Facebook, bosses at the Earl Street venue said: "We will be contacting all customers who have already purchased tickets for the show ASAP, to arrange a move to the new dates or to discuss their refund options."

This year's planned panto will be replaced with a musical comedy The Lost Christmas, a festive show for all the family.

Ticket holders for Jack And The Beanstalk will also have the option of moving their tickets over to the dates for the new show which will begin its run in December.

The theatre is also offering those who book seats for The Lost Christmas the chance to save £5 on tickets for next year's pantomime.

"We can’t wait to welcome you back to the theatre..."

"Thank you for your continued support and patience at this time," the update on the Hazlitt Facebook page said. "We can’t wait to welcome you back to the theatre in the near future."

Panto is also off in Tunbridge Wells this Christmas, with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Assembly Hall Theatre also postponed until 2021.

However the show will go on with a Covid-safe staging of Jack And The Beanstalk at The Stag theatre in Sevenoaks from December 18 to January 3.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone