Villagers are demanding the return of a baby Jesus doll after it vanished from a church nativity scene.

The seasonal centrepiece outside All Saints, Eastchurch, went missing in the days after Christmas.

The parish council and the church organised the scene as part of the village’s festive decorations which were unveiled at the end of November.

But last Friday, a parishioner - on his way to lay flowers on a grave - raised the alarm after noticing the doll was no longer in the manger.

Churchwarden Susan Hopper told KentOnline the church community is “dismayed” by the disappearance, partly because the doll was donated by Cllr Elaine Smith.

The 75-year-old said: “It’s very disheartening that somebody would just come along here and take it, especially as it has sentimental value for Elaine.

“We would love the person who has taken it, if they've got it in their heart, to bring it back and just place it into the manger again. That would be a lovely thing to happen and we just pray that it will.”

Susan, also a former parish councillor in the Isle of Sheppey village, says the church will not be deterred and will continue with the display next year, despite the “stupid person’s actions”.

She added: “It’s not going to spoil the village’s happiness at Christmas. This has always been part of the village and we don’t intend to stop doing it now.”

Council clerk Sarah Poole says the thief should “just put the baby Jesus back and no questions will be asked”.

“We do not know who took it,” she said. “But it could have been youths or someone who could not afford to buy presents so have wrapped it up and given it away.

“We and the church put a lot of effort into organising the Christmas displays, so it’s disappointing.”

Eastchurch resident Jill Crippings says the “whole village wants Jesus to return”.

The 65-year-old said: “There is a strong community and it’s an amazing village so it’s devastating to lose baby Jesus.”

However, it is not the first time a doll has been taken.

In 2022 a different Jesus went missing and was never returned.