Donkeys, horses, sheep and goats will make an unusual visit to the centre of Douglas for a nativity never seen before in the capital.

Villiers Square, next to Regent Street, will echo to the sounds of bleating, hoof trotting and carol singing for the new Christmas Live event on December 19.

Two back-to-back shows have been organised by Douglas Town Centre Management and Douglas church members including Alex Brown, a ’pioneer minister’ for the Douglas Council Town Centre Partnership.

They will take place with a limited total of 3,000 people being able to watch the story of baby Jesus unfold with animals from Knockaloe Beg Farm in Patrick.

Music will be provided by the Salvation Army, Douglas Gospel Choir, plus music from a Manx band.

A performance from a Queen Elizabeth II High School sixth form dance group will also be given.

Members of the public have also volunteered themselves to either be part of the carol choir, help direct the crowd or have put themselves down as designated animal poop-picker-upperers.

These preparations for the new event are ’coming along nicely’, town centre manager Oliver Cheshire said.

’Seeing a nativity is like going back to your childhood again. We’ve got our late night shopping on Thursday, so if the nativity doesn’t get you into the Christmas spirit, I don’t know what will!’ Mr Cheshire said.

He added: ’Sadly we couldn’t find any camels in time, so we will make do with hopefully two horses.’

The carol choir were busy practising on Tuesday night at Broadway Baptist Church.

Volunteer choir singer Charles Wilson said: ’This is going to bring the real meaning of Christmas right into the community.’

When asked if he’s ever done something like this, he replied: ’No and I don’t sing, I croak!’

Joining the choir is eight-year-old Lily Walkingshaw. She said: ’I’m really excited about it. I have been in a choir a lot of times and in the Guild by myself. I’ve also signed up to be a litter picker after the event and will be leading a goat as a shepherd.’

Mr Brown said: ’It’s going to be amazing. It was already something I was wanting to do. I contacted Fiona and John Anderson of Knockaloe Beg Farm as they’ve done Christmas on the Hill and Easter on the Hill, so I knew they had the costumes and the animals.

’Fiona and John are finding actors who are already familiar with the animals.’

He added: ’I have been working inter-church my whole life and this is one of the most exciting things that I think the church has done in recent years. It serves Douglas, it brings people into the town centre with all of the retail side of it being boosted, but it is also about the Christian message. It should be hugely nostalgic for people.’

Tickets for the free event - which will start at 6pm and 7.30pm - will be available soon, but are limited. Search christmaslive.mystrikingly.com for more details or to volunteer.

Tonight (Thursday) will see the big light switch on in Douglas from 6.15pm on the North Quay.

The Douglas Christmas Market is also due to take place on December 14 and 15 at the former Shoprite building on Chester Street from 10am to 5pm with a variety of food, drink and crafts being available to purchase.

Ramsey will set the festive season off in the north on November 23 with its lights switch on from 3pm. The Peel Christmas Market, lights and Santa event will take place on November 30 from 2pm.