A 'Pick Your Own Cherries' event at a National Trust house in Cornwall has been cancelled - after birds ate all the fruit. 

Staff had planned a cherry-picking event at a Tamar cherry orchard at Cotehele House on July 5.

But the event had to be cancelled on Friday after it was revealed that a group of resident blackbirds had devoured the entire crop of cherries. 

Posting on Facebook, staff at Cotehele House, near Saltash, wrote: "Never work with children or animals...

"Unfortunately the cheeky blackbirds who live at Cotehele, have jumped the queue and eaten ALL of the cherries in the orchard.

"Due to the unpredictable weather this spring, the blossom was staggered across a longer period, resulting in reduced pollination and less cherries growing.

"We (not the blackbirds) are sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment caused. We hope to offer this event next year and in the mean time, you can join us for a summer of play and apple picking in September."

They later went on to thank the public for its support after the announcement, adding: "Thank you everyone for being so understanding about the cancellation of Pick Your Own Cherries! #teamblackbird"