THE priest-in-charge of Tavistock has appealed for the figure of Jesus to be returned after it was taken from the crib at St Eustachius' Church two days after Christmas.

The crib scene at the church was set up on Christmas Eve and blessed at midnight mass, and is traditionally on display for 40 days as a focus and reminder of the Christmas season.

The figure of the baby Jesus appears to have been taken in the early evening of last Thursday when two men and a woman were seen leaving the church.

Priest-in-charge the Rev Michael Brierley said: 'It's a large crib set, much-loved by people in the town. Parishioners and visitors, including families with children, come into the church to see it, but are now wondering where the baby Jesus has gone.

'It's possible that it's been hidden within the church, but we've searched high and low for it, and it's nowhere to be seen.

'My hope is that someone has removed it for a bit of a joke, and that having had the company of Jesus at home for a few days, they will now appreciate that they need to put him back.

'The church is open at any time during the day for them to do so, or if they are worried that they would be spotted, they are very welcome just to leave the baby Jesus in the vicarage porch — an amnesty on Jesus, no questions asked.

'If it's not returned soon, we will sadly have to report the incident to the police.'