Is this really our Christmas message?

AN unholy row has broken out over a “scruffy” nativity crib in Oldham town centre.

A model donkey in the Christmas scene, near the Up Steps pub in High Street, has a patched-up ear, while the face of baby Jesus in the crib is badly scratched and scuffed.

There are marks on some of the other model figures in the scene and the display windows are grimy.

Shoppers condemned the display.

Christine Henry, from Shaw, said: “It’s tacky and scruffy. The crib looks neglected — hardly the spirit of Christmas.

“It sends out the wrong message.”

Pensioner Gladys Baron, from Rochdale, said: “The spirit of Christmas is being forgotten with the spend, spend, spend culture. But this display does nothing for Oldham at all.”

Her friend, Hannah Beard (81) said: “It looks so untidy. The windows of the crib look as if they’ve never been cleaned.”

Oldham businessman, Robert Marshall (59) first highlighted the untidiness and damaged figures in the crib last year.

He said: “I can’t believe we are witnessing the same scruffy scene again!

“It looks like something from a second-hand stall and makes us look as if we don’t care about Christmas.”

Carol Hopkins, local manager for Oldham at Greater Manchester Chamber, called on Oldham to raise its game last year after complaints about the nativity scene.

She said: “It is disappointing that, yet again, we are faced with a very tired looking nativity scene.

“It is important our street scene is on a par with what else is on offer.

“Indeed, many would say we should be aiming even higher, to ensure people come back and spread the word about how good Oldham town centre is.”

After complaints last year, Oldham town centre manager Mark Lester acknowledged the display needed renewing.

He promised the display would be updated in time for this year.

He said: “Following a small number of complaints last year a member of the public volunteered to refurbish the figurines and did an excellent job.

“This year, it was decided they would be used again and their possible replacement considered prior to next year.

“To my knowledge, no complaints about the nativity scene have been received this year.”