Surprise at the Stable live nativity 'lots of fun'

The family friendly event was held at the 17-acre Holmsted Manor and featured performances of Christmas carols.

Luckily for performers the weather was crisp and dry, with a pop-up café opening at 1pm for families to enjoy ahead of the 2.30pm show.

Steve Bishop, one of the organisers, said: “This event is one of our favourites to host – it’s a lot of fun.

“We love running something that our local community can come and get involved with.”

A narrator guided the audience through a simple retelling of the Bible story, with carols interspersed between interactions with the characters.

More than 200 guests met Mary and Joseph in ‘Nazareth’, walked to the ‘fields outside Bethlehem’, and caught up with them at a ‘stable’ in the manor grounds, with angels, a donkey, flaming torches and a guiding star featured.

Holmsted Manor is part of Youth With A Mission, a Christian group which has public events throughout the year.

For more information about the manor, visit https://ywamholmsted.org.