HAND-CRAFTED NATIVITY

THE skill of craftsmen from Innsbruck and Alfriston has created a village Christmas tableau so lifelike visitors swear they see the figures move.

The Christmas nativity scene will be unveiled for the first time at the Christingle service at St Andrew's Church, Alfriston, tomorrow (Saturday), 4pm.

Rector, the Rev Frank Fox-Wilson flew to Vienna to find the hand-carved figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby.

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But when it came to creating the beasts of the byre, he proved to be in a league of his own.

Frank, an expert carver and author of 'how to' books on the subject, studied donkeys, cattle, sheep and even a cat to recreate them in proportion to the principal figures.

The donkey in particular has a grey, stubbled coat, pale muzzle and coarse, erect mane.

The Holy Family and animals are set around authentic feeding troughs '“ also to scale '“ in a replica of stabling that would have formed the ground floor of a middle-eastern home 2,000 years ago.

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St Andrew's verger Alan Foulkes poured his skills into the mix by making miniature bridles, rugs, saddles and farm implements.

The Christmas crib will be displayed in St Andrew's Lady Chapel throughout Christmas.

The church has also benefited from a new, automated and low-energy lighting system installed by village specialists Norvetts.