Organisers of an open air church nativity play have been told an eight year old girl playing Mary will have to wear a helmet to ride a donkey for the performance.

Safety bosses will only let a donkey star in the show if the rider wears the helmet – in case she falls off the animal.

Mark Barrett, youth worker at The Bridge Church in Neath, south Wales, who has organised the performance said: ‘The owner of the donkey asked us to do this to make sure we keep to council guidelines and his insurance policy.

‘We’ve just got to comply with it, and do everything we can to make sure that everyone is happy,’ he added.

But organisers have been told Libby will need to wear a riding hat and possibly riding shoes on the day because of fears she could fall off and to comply with health and safety rules.

Mr. Barrett, said they didn’t have a problem complying with the regulations and that they had also had to ensure that the child riding the donkey fitted the rules of not weighing more than eight stone.

He said the riding hat was likely to be covered by Mary's costume on the day.