MARY and Joseph will have a live donkey, but the shepherds will have no live sheep at the Bere Ferrers nativity play next Tuesday.
One of the young people at St Andrew?s Church in the village came up with the idea of the nativity play complete with live animals. The rector, the Rev Nick Law, was happy to go along with the idea ? but encountered problems when it came to obtaining a live sheep.
?There are still movement restrictions in place for sheep, which would have made it very difficult for anyone supplying one, so we have had to make do with just the donkey ? who is called Martha,? he explained.
There will be a real baby, called Grace, for Mary and Joseph to care for, who will be about three weeks old ? it was touch and go whether she would be born in time, Mr Law said.
The play, which stars local children and adults, will take place in the church at 4pm on Tuesday, December 24 and there will be the chance to join in ?lots of carols?.
There will also be a collection for Pastor Samuel for his work with orphanges in India, with which the parish has a connection.