Shopping centre lifts nativity scene ban

A shopping centre has dropped its ban on staging a nativity scene as part of its Christmas display.

Thistles in Stirling had announced it would not be hosting any form of religious display, with bosses declaring the centre prides itself on being religiously and politically neutral.

But in a statement issued yesterday centre management confirmed they were lifting the ban on the installation of a Christmas crib.

Thistles will now be hosting a nativity scene within their shopping mall from Sunday onwards.

The shopping centre’s statement said: “We’ve listened carefully to everyone who contacted us about the installation and have decided to reverse our original decision.”

The move was welcomed by the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.