Protests and strikes planned for Thursday in France have forced a delay in the transfer to a secret location of the Bayeux Tapestry ahead of its historic planned loan to the UK next year, an official said.

French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to loan the mediaeval tapestry -- which records the 1066 Norman conquest of Anglo-Saxon England -- to the British Museum in 2026 to celebrate Franco-British relations.

After the museum where the tapestry is held in the town of Bayeux in Normandy closed for renovations, the tapestry was due to be removed Thursday to a secret location in France ahead of the loan.

"Due to the expected mobilisation tomorrow (Thursday)," the local authorities do not consider they are "able to ensure the security of such a high-profile transfer and... of such an expen

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