YOUNGSTERS in Huntingdonshire have given the traditional nativity story a modernist twist with their Barbara Hepworth-inspired sculptures.

Every pupil at Holywell Primary School had a hand in producing the life-size characters on display throughout this week at All Saints Church in St Ives.

The cutting edge 3D artwork shows baby Jesus in purple, Mary in blue, Joseph in yellow, a shepherd in green, one of the three kings kneeling in red and a sheep.

Hepworth helped develop the modern art movement in Britain. Her sculptures were often abstract and monochrome.

The display is part of a dicoese-wide initiative called the Big Crib Exhibition involving more than 50 schools. For each display pupils have created large-scale figures in a range of artistic styles.

Deputy headteacher Claire MacDonald said: “It is not something we have done before. It is the first time we have got involved.

“One figure was created per class. We started off with massive sheets of cardboard to make the outline shape. Then we used long strips of cardboard and stuck it on and covered it with tissue paper. All in all it took just one day to do.”

Other churches with displays are St Mary’s Church, St Neots with displays by pupils at Great Paxton School, Great Staughton School, St Marys School, St Neots, Offord School and Buckden School; St Thomas a Beckett Church, Ramsey with displays by Great Gidding School and Bury School; St Peter and St Paul Church, Alconbury with displays by Alconbury Church, Alconbury Community Crib, Alconbury Church of England School and Abbots Ripton School.

The exhibition runs until December 3.