Thousands of worshippers squeezed into packed churches this Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Many churches in south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight held additional carol services and put on special events to cope with the demand, with candlelit services proving especially popular.

Portsmouth's Anglican Cathedral held three identical carol services for the first time this year, to cater for more than the estimated 2,000 worshippers.

The cathedral's master of choristers, David Price, said: "We discovered last year that two carol services just wasn't enough, even with 750-800 people at each. There are also people who prefer not to come out in the evenings."

The experience fits in with the national picture - the latest statistics show Christmas attendance figures up by seven per cent since 2001, with cathedral services especially popular.

There were also two identical crib services - in which the Christmas story was told as figures were added to a nativity scene - in the cathedral at 3pm and 4.30pm on Christmas Eve. The cathedral choir also sang carols at a special service at the top of the Spinnaker Tower at 4pm on Sunday.

Children were able to stroke real animals at Holy Rood Church, Stubbington, which staged a real-life version of the nativity and encouraged families to walk through the nativity story both inside and outside the church.

Worshippers dressed up and talked to visitors as if they were the characters involved in the traditional story, including Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, angels and wise men. Families were able to go outside and see a stable, complete with the kind of animals that witnessed the birth of Christ. Donkeys, sheep and other farmyard animals will give a flavour of what it must have felt like to be in a first-century stable.

Worshippers at St Matthew's Church, Blackmoor, were also inspired to think of the reality of the nativity scene. Their porch was transformed into a life-size nativity scene during December, thanks to the work of a group of creative women.

They have been working since August on life-size versions of Mary, Joseph, two sheep, a donkey and other animals. It's a three-year project, and they hope to add shepherds and kings to the scene over the next two Christmasses.

Assistant curate the Rev Wendy Mallas, said: "I thought about the fact that a lot of people come to church for Christmas services, and thought it would be lovely for them to walk through a nativity scene."

The group made the bodies of the animals using chicken wire and paper maché. A wooden structure was put together to create the human figures.

St Mary the Virgin, Rowner, in Gosport, is one of several churches where adults and children were encouraged to dress up for the popular Christmas Eve crib service.

The rector, the Rev John Draper, said: "We usually have some newborn babies as well, in which case there is a competition to be the baby Jesus. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and everyone gets into the mood and the Christmas spirit."