A SELL-OUT frenzy has stopped the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, buying a Christmas tree decoration of himself.

Miniature versions of the archbishop are hanging on festive trees in many homes across the city this Christmas - except for his own.

Dr Sentamu was approached by representatives from York Minster earlier last month and agreed to the production of the decorations in the hope it would help raise funds for the cathedral.

The 10cm fabric decorations were handmade in Thailand by a group of 30 women, and the bespoke range features a 6in-high padded Dr Sentamu wearing a gold and blue robe.

Avid Christmas decorators snapped up all 200 of the £6.50 fabric tree decorations before they even hit the shops.

A spokesman for the archbishop said: "We tried to buy some of the decorations for the Christmas tree at the archbishop's residence, but they were all sold out at the Minster shop.

"We were disappointed not to have any for the tree, but pleased they have done well."

A spokeswoman for the York Minster shop said: "There are hundreds of people who are waiting for the decorations. All the decorations, which are yet to even arrive in the shop, are already spoken for.

"They have taken off even better than expected."

Dr Sentamu is not the first archbishop to be made into a decoration.

St Nicolas, the company which makes the festive ornaments, has been making decorations of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, for a few years and he is said to be very popular.

Caroline Apfel, spokeswoman for St Nicolas, which specialises in cultural and festive decorations, said they had been selling to the Minster shop for several years and they were asked to make a decoration of Dr Sentamu.

She said: "We are very happy with him; it is a good addition and allows visitors to the Minster to contribute to funds.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury has been very popular.

"He is part of the main range and a lot of the churches sell him, although the Archbishop of York is exclusively for York."