A CHURCH group has won praise from a bishop for spreading the "true" meaning of Christmas with an open air Nativity.

Earby Churches Together group performed the play on the green, Riley Street, in the doorway of the White Lion pub and at Mount Zion Baptist Church for than 500 people.

Last week the Bishop of Burnley the Rt Rev John Goddard criticised lack of religion in this year's Christmas cards and told of his fears about "aggressive secularism".

And he said he was delighted to find out so many people had shown they cared about Christ at Christmas by being involved in or watching the Nativity.

Bishop Goddard said: "It's absolutely brilliant and I welcome the fact that Earby has embraced the story of Jesus's birth.

"Things like this are starting to go on all over the country.

"It's good to know people are taking the celebration of Christmas so much to heart."

Actors used surroundings as scenery. The doorway of the pub was used as the inn.

The shepherds' fire and the stable were on the green, with Wise Men journeying from Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Between each scene, the audience sang carols, accompanied by Earby Brass Band Around 50 children from Earby Springfield Primary School, Guides, Brownies and Scouts took part, with Esther Berry and her daughter Tabitha as Mary and Jesus, and Mark Maza from Briercliffe's HAPPA sanctuary playing Joseph.

The centre also provided Pilgrim the donkey, while three sheep and a sheepdog owned by All Saints' Church, Earby's curate, the Rev Tracey Rishton, took part.

David Hartley, a lay-minister with St Peter's Methodist Church, said the show had been even more popular than last year's debut of "Earby to Bethlehem", with people coming from outside the village to take a look.

He said: "It portrayed the true meaning of Christmas.

"It helps a lot because everything's real - we have a real baby, a real donkey and it's done dramatically with each scene lit up."