THE Courtyard in Hereford has closed after Prime Minister Boris Johnson advised people to avoid going to theatres, pubs and restaurants.

All events have been postponed with immediate effect to help slow the spread of coronavirus, the theatre's chief executive said.

The theatre will remain closed until further notice, but will look to reopen as soon as possible following government recommendations.

Coronavirus: Live updates on the situation in Herefordshire

The Courtyard will be contacting all affected customers, ticket holders and community groups as soon as possible to make arrangements. Customers are asked to bear in mind that customer service teams will be extremely busy and to be patient in this unprecedented time.

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Chief executive Ian Archer said: “Closing is not a decision taken lightly, and we know it will have a severe impact on the many people working with us.

"We’re in an unprecedented situation and our community’s safety is all that matters. We understand that it is not practical or responsible for us to host events while people’s lives are at risk.

"We are extremely grateful to all of our audiences who have continued to support us for as long as they can, and to all of our theatre staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly since the outbreak to ensure the safety of visitors.

"We are asking customers to consider donating the cost of the ticket, or to take a credit to use at a later date, rather than requesting a refund where possible. We realise not everyone will be in a position to do this, but we’re also hoping, that when all this is over, we’ll be able to open our doors to entertain you once again.”