The Glastonbury Festival in the UK has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a statement this morning, organisers Michael and Emily Eavis said they had no option but to cancel in “times of such unprecedented uncertainty.”

They have offered their “sincere apologies” to the 135,000 people who had put down deposits on tickets.

Anyone who placed a deposit now has the option of letting it roll-over to next year or securing a refund.

Billie Eilish performs on day 5 of Glastonbury Festival 2019 in Somerset, UK, 30-06-2019. Image: David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment

“We very much hope that the situation in the UK will have improved enormously by the end of June,” said the organisers.

“But even if it has, we are no longer able to spend the next three months with thousands of crew here on the farm, helping us with the enormous job of building the infrastructure and attractions needed to welcome more than 200,000 people to a temporary city in these fields.”

This year’s festival would have marked its 50^th anniversary and the organisers said the cancellation will have severe financial implications for the festival and for its “charity partners, suppliers, traders, local landowners and our community.”

“We were so looking forward to welcoming you all for our 50th anniversary with a line-up full of fantastic artists and performers that we were incredibly proud to have booked,” said the organisers.

“Again, we’re so sorry that this decision has been made. It was not through choice.

“We look forward to welcoming you back to these fields next year and until then, we send our love and support to all of you.”

The likes of Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, Diana Ross and Paul McCartney had been due to headline this year’s festival.