VISITORS to a Princes Risborough church found themselves transported back in time to Biblical Bethlehem for this year's nativity celebrations.

On arrival at the Baptist Church in Bell Street the guests, some of them in period costume, were greeted by Roman soldiers who stamped their identity cards as part of Herod's census.

They were them ushered inside to browse the stalls, where market traders in robes hawked toys, books and games.

Inside the church children were able to pet chickens, hamsters, rabbits, mice and a piglet, while the larger beasts including a donkey and some sheep remained outside.

Reverend Adrian Redfearn said: “It is a way of bringing church and community together at a very significant point in the year.

“The Christmas story is a particularly visual story. It loses something when you're just reading it.

“This sort of event gives you an opportunity to interact.”

The actors took to the stage inside the church to begin with, before the audience moved outside to see the angels appearing to the shepherds as they tended their flocks of real sheep.

After one small hiccup where the donkey carrying Mary refused to go inside - “it just made up its mind that it wasn't going in,” Rev Adrian said – the audience watched the play's remainder in the shelter of the church.

Around 200 people were at the performance on Saturday, which was organised by Monks Risborough School teacher Nicola Hirst and church member Anthony Knight.

This was the second year the nativity has been held in this way, as last year's event was organised to celebrate the church's 300th birthday.

Rev Adrian said: “There was a consensus that it went better this year despite the bad weather.”