This year's Cannes Film Festival has been postponed for the first time in history as the coronavirus pandemic gathers pace around the globe.

The annual event, which attracts the film industry's top figures, had been due to take place in southern France between May 12 and 23.

Due to the spread of the deadly COVID-19 disease, however, organisers confirmed today that the 74-year-old festival has been delayed until later this year.

A statement said: "Today, we have made the following decision: The Festival de Cannes cannot be held on the scheduled dates, from May 12 to 23.

"Several options are considered in order to preserve its running, the main one being a simple postponement, in Cannes, until the end of June-beginning of July, 2020."

Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X director Spike Lee had been in line to head the jury of this year's festival.

France has now been in lockdown due to coronavirus for three days, with almost 11,000 cases and over 370 deaths confirmed in the country to date.