A SEX shop in Spain has caused controversy after trying to get into the Christmas spirit with its dildo nativity scene.

Non Sit Peccatum, based in Toledo, commissioned an artist to paint the figures of Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus onto ceramic dildos, before displaying them in the shop window.

The unique recreation of the iconic biblical scene led to angry outbursts after several people said they were offended.

Shop owner Hector Valdivielso said: “A man with his wife ordered me to remove the offending scene and said that if I didn’t he would remove it himself.”

Valdivielso received so many insults and calls that he had to call the police.

The shop sign was vandalised with the word ‘pecadores’ – sinners – before a group called the Children of the Virgin Mary launched a boycott on the store.

Days later a dozen-strong crowd gathered outside to harass customers.

“It was affecting my business,” said Valdivielso. “Who wants to come to a store like this to hear a sermon?”.

The owner removed the scene from the window and replaced it with a poster asking passersby to vote on whether or not he should replace it, with an overwhelming 78.5% saying he should.

“People asked me not to give in to blackmail,” Valdivielso said. “So it’s going back in the window”.