GREGGS the bakery has apologised for an advert which depicted a Nativity scene with a sausage roll, instead of baby Jesus.

The national chain, which has a store on Fore Street in Hexham, used the image of a Nativity scene to promote its advent calender.

But it used an image of a sausage roll surrounded by the three wise men.

The move sparked outrage among many Christians who said the advert was blasphemous and derogatory.

A Greggs spokesman said: "We're really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention."