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The baby Jesus has been stolen from a Birmingham city centre nativity scene - and replaced with a GARDEN GNOME.

The tiny red-hatted character was left at the centre of the Chamberlain Square display – but the sculpture of the infant Christ was nowhere to be seen.

Birmingham City Council, which installed the large-scale nativity yards from the newly-opened Frankfurt Christmas Market, removed the gnome and boarded up the attraction.

“Someone has tampered with the nativity scene and we are trying to find out how it happened,” a spokeswoman said.

“It didn’t look like that this morning.”

One outraged passer-by said: “I think it’s disgraceful.

“We are told we need to be considerate of every faith but that’s not showing any consideration for the Christian faith.

“My son’s in a reception class at school and I’m trying to teach him the right things – and there’s Jesus Christ represented as a garden gnome.

“It’s offensive and everyone around me who saw it thought the same.”

The nativity nightmare emerged as the Christmas Market opened for business.

More than three million visitors from across the UK and Europe are expected to flock to the attraction this year – spending around £90 million.

With 190 stalls stretching for more than a mile, from the Bullring to the International Convention Centre, it is the biggest of its kind in the world outside Germany and Austria.

Adjoining the market, which runs until December 23, will be Birmingham Christmas Craft Market, which will include stalls selling food and crafts produced by local businesses and artists.

Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Coun John Lines, said: “It gives me tremendous pleasure to welcome back the market to Birmingham for its twelfth year.

“It will provide a vibrant festive centrepiece for all our visitors to enjoy our fantastic city and all it has to offer.

“As well as bringing festive cheer, the markets bring huge financial benefits to the city.

“Our markets attract visitors from the wider region, the UK and Europe who spend money in our shops, restaurants and hotels.

“This adds to the overall economy of the city centre at a critical time of year for retailers and business.”

Coun Volker Stein, from Frankfurt City Council, added: “I am delighted the people of Birmingham, and visitors from all over Britain, have taken the market to their hearts.

“It shows how experiencing other cultures can genuinely enrich our lives and promote international understanding.”

New for this year will be a series of pop-up stalls in Centenary Square, selling a range of produce, from Cath Kidson bags to fish and chips, as well as warm Pimms and Christmas dinner in a Yorkshire pudding.