A contemporary twist to the traditional nativity story was presented at Eldroth Church.

Modern transport replaced the donkey and a wisewoman lined up with the visitors from the East.

The story was told by a schoolboy called Luke and Mary and Joe arrived on a motorbike and were put up in Eldroth church because there was no room in the local B&Bs.

Real shepherds in agriculturally aromatic outfits herded their sheep on quad bikes. Angels popped up among the audience to deliver their message with a heavenly chorus of Gloria in Excelsis, while Baby Jesus slept in the piano stool.

The story ended with the arrival of two wisemen and a wisewoman from universities in Baghdad, Germany and Cambridge.

They were astro-physicists attending an international conference in Yorkshire and came bearing gifts of a golden iPad, frankincense and the new wonder cure for arthritis – myrrh.

The play was written, produced and performed by villagers and the cast included local people aged from 11 to over 80.