Anglican cathedrals could be forced to charge for entry or face closure, amid dwindling public funding and expensive running costs.

Financial crisis is threatening the future of half of England's Anglican cathedrals, the chairman of a new working group has warned.

Currently just nine of the 42 cathedrals charge for entry, but that could change amid severe financial difficulties.

Adrian Newman, the bishop of Stepney, said cathedrals are facing a "new scale and depth" of challenge in their bid to stay afloat.