FORGET about the small versions containing chocolate.

A special community Advent calendar is set to make a big impact in Blackbird Leys.

Church-goers and estate residents have been working on creating a nativity scene at the Church Of The Holy Family – which will combine the Nativity story with local landmarks including the tower blocks.

A 30ft by 4ft night scene has been painted on plywood and characters will be added to it every day of Advent – from December 1 to 24.

This will be displayed on the wall outside the church in Cuddesdon Way.

The Reverend Heather Carter said she got the idea from a Songs of Praise episode which featured an Advent calendar on Brighton beach that had different scenes in different huts.

She said: “People said this is a good idea.

“It is not just painted by church people, it is by people in the community.”

She added: “It is a night scene we have painted. On the left hand side it starts off in the hills with Mary in Nazareth.

“Every day we are going to be putting on a new bit of the scene.”

Day one will feature Mary speaking to an angel and the final day will be baby Jesus in the manger.

Familiar sites included on the calendar are Evenlode and Windrush towers and Joseph’s carpentry workshop will be painted like the estate’s Pathways building opposite the Barn.

Rev Carter said: “It has been a community event with other people coming in to paint it, it hasn’t been just church people.

“There are only five church people out of 30 involved.

“We are telling the Christmas story. It is not about how much you can afford at Christmas, there is a story behind it.”

Russell Price, from Blackbird Leys, has been helping with the project, and said: “It is a community-wide project.

“Last weekend we had some people painting the background.

“We will be painting 24 images for 24 days of Advent.

“There will be shepherds, sheep and stars and angels.”

He added: “Hopefully people will be intrigued and they will want to find out more.”

The church has also organised a production of Rock Nativity, a Christmas musical, to be performed in December.

For more information visit holyfamilybbl.co.uk A calendar painting session is being held in the church hall at the Church of the Holy Family on Sunday from 2pm until 4pm.