PICTURES: Villagers get in the festive spirit at 'Living Nativity' performance in Northamptonshire

On Saturday (December 16) Hardingstone villagers performed a walking and talking 'Living Nativity' at various sites around the village, which started at 2pm in 'Nazareth' (St Edmund’s Church) before finishing at the site of the Nativity itself (the vicarage).

Organiser, Emma Wise said: "We had about 80 people attend the event, which we were very pleased with. The Hardingstone Academy school choir joined us and gave a little performance at the vicarage, which was lovely."

Guests were asked to arrive at St Edmunds Church for 2pm before the performance moved around the village.

As an added incentive to attend, hot drinks and mince pies were served at the vicarage at the end of the performance and small gifts were handed out to those who watched.

She added: "Highlights for me were the great performances from our real life innkeepers at The Crown and The Sun Inn - a diversion via Blue Barns Pet Foods Store for our donkey to get some hay and a beautiful dance from our angels, choreographed by the lovely helpers from Northampton High School (suitably costumed as Angels themselves) - and a great turn from Janus the play’s narrator.

"It rained as we set off and was very chilly so our refreshments at the end of the procession were also particularly welcome."