Mary and Joseph sold by mistake in charity shop blunder

It's a scene typical around the UK in the run up to Christmas with Mary and Joseph tending baby Jesus surrounding by wise men and shepherds.

But for one charity shop in Bridgnorth there is something distinctively missing from its nativity scene – Mary and Joseph. They were being used as part of a window display in the Donkey Rescue UK's shop in Mill Street when a volunteer sold them for £5 on Wednesday.

The wooden figures were carved and donated by one of the charity's supporters as part of a nativity set.

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Now the charity, which has a donkey sanctuary at Billingsley near Bridgnorth, has made a desperate appeal for the man who bought the two life-size characters to return them.

Amanda Ball, founder of the charity, said: "I was contacted by Claire Cartman, one of the animal carers, to see if I had collected Mary and Joseph as they were not there when she closed up the shop.

"We could not believe it when we realised one of the volunteers had sold them for £5.

"Donkeys play an important role in the nativity at Christmas time, that's why it was so important to us to recreate the scene in the shop window – unfortunately baby Jesus appears now to have been abandoned.

"They were handmade for us. We had them in a nativity at our donkey sanctuary last year.

"They have been stored in a loft all summer."

She said the items were believed to have been sold by the shop assistant between noon and 2pm to a man in his mid 30s.

She said: "A man pulled up in a black Land Rover and walked in and offered her a fiver. She assumed they were for sale and sold them.

"I am assuming he wants them for a display and they will appear in another window somewhere.

"I think she feels a bit of a wally.

"She just didn't know they were not for sale, there was no sign on them.

"We would be very grateful if whoever it was could return them.

"We will give them the £5 back."

If anyone can help call 07975 516219.