A living nativity scene outside a gospel church thrilled children and families in Portswood.

In a move reminiscent of hit TV show The Vicar of Dibley, Victory Gospel Church created a stable outside their building in Portswood Road.

Donkeys, sheep, chickens and even an innkeeper got bystanders in the festive spirit last Sunday.

Beforehand, guest speaker Robyn Thom Rodgers spoke about prophesy.

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Reverend Josh White, Youth and Families Pastor at Victory Gospel Church, said: "Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for Christians all over the world and also represents a great opportunity for us at Victory Gospel Church to reach out to our city and host services and events to share the joy of Christmas with as many people as we possibly can.

"This year we hosted a family service and afterwards had a living nativity scene set up right outside our building in the middle of Portswood Road.

"It was an absolute joy to host this event for the local community and was a great way to make the Christmas story, the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, come to life.

"It was a great experience for many of the children to hear the nativity story, see and experience the real life animals, some for the very first time.

"Before the living nativity, our guest speaker, Robyn Thom Rodgers, ministered on prophesy, which is God’s way of communicating to man-kind and a key part of the Christmas story."