LIVE animals and a new figure of baby Jesus to replace one that was stolen last year were welcomed at Tavistock Parish Church last week ready for its Christmas services.

The church will begin its celebrations this Sunday evening (December 22) with a candle-lit festival of readings and carols at 6pm.

The readings will be given by parents of the church's children, and the parish choir will delight the congregation with music by Berlioz, Darke, Handel, Rutter, and the choir's own director of music Dr Sean Sweeney, in an exquisite arrangement of 'Silent Night'.

A donkey and sheep will be welcomed into the church at the crib service on Christmas Eve, when two identical services will be held at 3.30pm and 5pm, in order to accommodate everyone who wishes to come. New-born babes will represent the baby Jesus.

Then at 11.30pm, the church will host the traditional service of midnight mass, with friends from Tavistock Methodist Church.

At the service this year, a new crib figure of baby Jesus will be blessed.

It has been made by local potter Grace Coombes, and is identical to the one that was taken from the crib over the Christmas period last year.

Priest-in-charge of Tavistock, the Rev Michael Brierley, said: 'It's a fantastic likeness and we're extremely grateful to Grace for the many hours that she's laboured upon it, as well as the benefactor who has generously given it to the parish church.'

Christmas Day will feature two main services, a quiet, said service of holy communion at 8am, and a family service of communion which will feature popular carols and festive fun, at 9.30am.

All are welcome.