A TOUCH of Mexican Christmas magic came to Barkingside at the weekend as wooden Nativity figures were paraded down High Street.

The ‘Posada’ has been a custom in Mexico for hundreds of years, where young people dressed as Mary and Joseph travel from house to house asking for a room for the night before placing figures of Mary and Joseph in the local church.

But volunteers from the Manna House Christian Centre in High Street have given it a Barkingside spin.

Lee Scott, MP for Ilford North, and the Mayor of Redbridge, Councillor Muhammed Javed, led the procession which was accompanied by carol singers.

The figures will spend 24 hours with 20 shops as part of the Posada.

Staff at Manna House hope the ceremony will bring shopkeepers and customers closer together.

The procession also marked the return of Manna House to its High Street home which was gutted by fire in June.