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Greggs forced to apologise after replacing baby Jesus with a SAUSAGE ROLL in advent calendar nativity scene
GREGGS has been forced to apologise for replacing baby Jesus with a SAUSAGE ROLL in its advent calendar promotion.
The high street chain came under fire after showing the pastry in a manger - instead of Jesus - in publicity photos for its special Christmas countdown.
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The £24 calendar does not contain any treats behind the doors. Instead it contains tokens which can be redeemed inside one of 1,700 Greggs stores across the UK.
While some welcomed the calendar, other foodies could not get past the controversial images.
Under-fire Greggs has now apologised for the photo and said it "did not mean to cause offence".
Christians hit out at the chain for being disrespectful and creating a controversy to boost sales.
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The Rev Mark Edwards, of St Matthew’s Church, Dinnington, and St Cuthbert’s Church in Brunswick — both near Greggs’ headquarters in Newcastle — said: “It goes beyond just commercialism.”
Daniel Webster, from the UK Evangelical Alliance, said his group was “not too outraged” by the stunt — but reckoned that the row raised the issue of Bible stories being misused to sell products.”
A spokesman said: "We're really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention."
Other publicity photos include a Santa with pasty flakes on his beard, a Greggs shop in a snow globe and a steak bake on a festive table.
The 500 calendars are only available from 17 stores and are set to go on sale on Monday.
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