MORE than 200 people visited Liphook Church Centre to experience the true story of Christmas – courtesy of a live Nativity.

With real animals in the stable, children and adults played the parts of the well-known Christmas story characters dressed in colourful costumes.

The Reverend Valentine Inglis-Jones this year portrayed Jesus' father Joseph and Nikki Shepherd, who organised the event, played the Virgin Mary.

The church band provided music of the angelic host and everyone was able to join in and make wonderful Christmas crafts including a glittery star tree decoration and festive finger puppets.

Each child was given a Nativity activity wheel to colour in, which accompanied the Christmas story, and entertainment was provided by a puppet show.

The Church Centre, in Portsmouth Road, was busy all morning and visitors enjoyed a friendly welcome and a fun family quiz to help them steer their way through the myriad of different activities sights and sounds, as well as delicious homemade refreshments.