IT is the Christmas play that brings tears to the eyes of most proud parents.

But misty-eyed mums and dads were treated to a real festive surprise when they settled down to a Nativity performance at one Hampshire school.

Traditionally you might expect baby Jesus to appear in the form of a plastic toy wrapped in white swaddling and balanced precariously on the knees of a young Mary or Joseph.

But they pulled out all the stops at Milford on Sea Infant School – when eight-day old Oscar Crowther was brought in to play the new-born Messiah himself.

The tiny baby was cradled by his doting older brother Jayden, 4, who was playing the role of Joseph in the traditional Christmas performance.

Both boys put in star performances to the delight of their adoring family and members of the audience.

Oscar behaved beautifully in his sparkling first foray on the stage and was watched by mum and dad, Laura and Mike, as well as the boys’ grandparents and great grandparents.

The touching scene had been pre-arranged by the school and the family and Laura.

Grandad Nigel Whitehorn, from New Milton, said: “Oscar was as happy as could be.

Everyone watching thought it was really wonderful and there were plenty of photos being taken.

“Jayden is a confident little boy so he had no problems holding his brother.

“I have never seen anything like it, the audience thought it was so sweet and they loved it.”