A SHEEP, a donkey and a goat were among a group of farmyard animals who made a special appearance at an innovative nativity service on Christmas Eve.

A calf was also on hand to greet the more than 1,500 visitors who turned up at All Saints Church in Woodford Wells for one of four sold-out performances of the festive play.

The animals were brought to the church, in Inmans Row, from a farm in Derbyshire especially for the event, which featured a replica stable and the screening of a film showing the three wise men arriving in London by Eurostar at St Pancras station and travelling from there to Woodford Wells.

Rev Paul Harcourt said the animals and impressive set helped show what life was like in the world when Jesus was born.

He said: "The animals and the set were used to demonstrate that Jesus was brought into a broken and messy world, not a palace.

"We got a really good reaction from people who came along, and at one point we had about 70 waiting for the next performance in a cafe we set up for the day.

"The film got a good response. Their were moments of awe and wonder during the services."

Rev Harcourt praised the work of the volunteers who helped organise the event, which involved working for up to four days to construct the stable.

He said: "The stable was huge. It had to be taken down in just a few hours to make way for the midnight service.

"A lot of hard work goes in to putting these services together."