Little donkey - and lots of other characters in seasonal story

Shoppers were treated to a live version of the Christmas story.

Mary and Joseph – who were played by Christine Kirkup and her husband Brian from Newbottle – rode on donkeys into the Market Place to be told at a modern inn, The Market Tavern, that there was no room for them.

They then moved to a stage outside St Nicholas’s Church for the story of Christmas to be enacted.

Six local vicars took the part of the shepherds and kings.

People were invited to join in the drama when they were told by the town crier to register their names for taxing.

The performance ended with a silent torchlight procession to the Cathedral for a thanksgiving service which was held in the Galilee Chapel.

The play was organised by the Durham Diocese of the Mother’s Union with the story of the Nativity being dramatised by Mrs Christine Foreman, President of the Durham Mother’s Union. She said: “We wanted to get away from the glitter, baubles and consumerism of Christmas and give people a true picture of the Christmas message.” Who remembers the live story with a difference? Email chris.cordner@jpimedia.co.uk.