An artist has created a modern-day Nativity scene inspired by the evocative scenes of refugees crossing the English Channel.

For the last 10 years Angus Macaskill has painted a Christmas scene to display on the gates of his home Olveston home.

A photo in the national press a few weeks ago arrested Angus’ attention.

It showed a RNLI volunteer helping migrants ashore. They had been rescued from a flimsy inflatable arriving at night from France.

The image game Angus the idea for the nativity scene he has now painted.

He said: "The central idea was to substitute a tiny inflatable boat as a cot, to take the place of an animal feed trough or manger.

"The baby Jesus would be afloat on the sea at night with his parents. This year there wouldn’t be a stable or cows or sheep, but a 21st century equivalent instead."

Last year Angus painted a rather more traditional greeting card scene: a Christmas tree growing outside in a snowy landscape, and decorated with vials of the newly arriving Covid-19 vaccine.

“I’m slightly concerned that this year’s scene will be controversial to some," he said.

"But the biblical account of Christ’s birth, away from home, shelter and without normal sources of comfort, and to parents who had been forced to travel for savage political reasons has extraordinary parallels to the scene I’ve now painted.”

“The good news of Christmas is of course that Jesus arrived in the world with all its troubles, for the very purpose of providing hope and a route through difficulties we face.

"I hope the scene will be a trigger for festive cheer as people are reminded that at the first Christmas, faith as we now celebrate it, entered the world; and faith prospered despite the appalling situation of the time – cause for celebration indeed!”

This year's painting is four foot by six foot and painted in mixed media on ply. Angus hopes it will be weatherproof enough to be on display for two or three weeks.