Ref. 28210-76A MOTHER and daughter have created a 6ft by 6ft nativity scene made out of cardboard and Evening Advertisers.

Janet Meardon and her daughter Sian, 19, created the papier mache nativity in their front garden.

It took them two weeks to make and they used around 100 newspapers.

"I love to have the Christmas story in my garden,'' said Janet from Babington Close, West Swindon.

"There is a stable, palm tree, a manger, two shepherds, three kings, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and a donkey's head.''

The nativity has fabric and paint on top of the papier mache and is protected from the elements by PVA and outdoor paint.

Janet's husband Paul, who is a finance director, gave a helping hand by putting Christmas lights over the nativity.

Janet runs Pobbles UK, an arts and crafts business. "I have being doing arts for ever as a hobby but for the past few years it has turned into a business,'' said Janet.

As well as helping her mother with the business Sian is a science student at Bath College.

Janet has three other children Gareth, 20, Nerys, 15 and Owain, 13.

"They all love the nativity,'' said Janet.

"But they think their mum's a bit eccentric.''