Mary, Joseph and three camels head for village

A SCOTS village is to be transformed into Bethlehem in the run-up to Christmas - complete with live camels.

A church in Carstairs, South Lanarkshire, has gone the extra mile for its nativity scene by drafting in the animals for a parade. Three camels and a donkey will join Mary, Joseph and the three wise men on Saturday 18 December.

Street signs will be changed to reflect the biblical city and "no room" notices will appear in windows. The local football team has even agreed to get involved by dressing up as Roman soldiers.

The Rev Alan Gibson said: "Rather than waiting for people daring to cross the threshold of the church door, we thought we had to take the Christmas message outside."

Mr Gibson, who hired the animals from a company in England, said he had been overwhelmed by the support within the community.

Tunnock's has produced special "camel" wafers with the date and time of the parade, which will be given out to locals.