REAL-LIFE animals took centre stage at an open-air nativity play in York city centre.

Sheep and donkeys were joined by youngsters from St Barnabas CE School and clergy from the city’s churches for the performance yesterday lunchtime in King’s Square.

They were supported by the choir of St Columba’s United Reformed Church and the Railway Institute Band. The show was free, but collection buckets were rattled to raise funds for the Guardian Angels children’s unit at York Hospital.