A NATIVITY scene with real animals was visited by schoolchildren who helped to create their own festive grotto.

Each class at Manor Field Junior School in Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, created their own Christmas scene in the outside wooded area at the school.

Parents, children from the infant school and pre-school were then invited to join students at Manor Field to walk along the magical woodland walk, and meet Father Christmas.

At the end of the outside grotto was a nativity scene with real farm animals, including sheep, a donkey and goats, from Miller’s Ark.

Headteacher Jan Cushing said: “There were lots of different activities and samples of Christmas cake. What we wanted to do is embrace the whole community.

“It’s something we do every two years and it’s become a tradition. It’s my last Christmas before I retire, so it made it really special.

“The children were absolutely overwhelmed, and they were all given a gift by Santa. The whole purpose was to introduce Christmas to the children in a spiritual way as well as being fun.

“They got to see the real meaning of Christmas and share and celebrate it with their friends and family.”