A SCHOOL’S ancient Nativity set has been saved, thanks to the BBC.

Pupils at Cardinal Newman Catholic School feared the worst for the figures, which had seen better days.

The Nativity pieces had been used every year since the school opened in 1971.

They were given to Cardinal Newman, in Hove, by the nuns who previously lived there when it was a convent – they decided to leave Brighton as it had become “too racy”.

The Nativity set is an integral part of the school’s Advent activities, which help to raise money for charities including Mary’s Meals, Hangleton and West Blatchington Food Bank, Project Antifreeze, Charlotte’s Bag and Meningitis Now.

Money raised is presented to the charities at a candlelit Advent carol service where the Nativity set plays centre stage.

But over the years, a number of pieces had become chipped, baby Jesus had lost his hands and the donkey had lost his ears.

Some of the pupils appeared on BBC’s The Repair Shop Christmas Special last week after putting out a plea to the television show to restore some Christmas cheer to the Nativity set.

A school spokeswoman said The Repair Shop team worked extremely hard to bring the pieces back to life in time for the important Advent period.

She said: “We were so pleased that The Repair Shop team could help us and were really excited to take part.

“It was a great experience to meet the team and film at the Weald and Downland museum for the day.

“The Nativity set is now back where it belongs in our school chapel and is looking fantastic.

“Baby Jesus has his hands back and our donkey has his ears.”

The Repair Shop is produced by Ricochet, a subsidiary of Warner Bros Studios based in Dyke Road, Brighton.

The show gives new life to valuable and sentimental damaged objects, thanks to the team’s expert menders.

The Repair Shop Christmas Special was screened on BBC 2 at 7pm on Tuesday, December 19, and is available to watch now on iPlayer.