The nativity figures, which were taken form a "stable" in the porch of St Giles Church in Wrexham, on Sunday morning, were found, along with goods taken from the church gift shop and a chalice and other items from another church in the town, at an address in Wrexham.

Wrexham community beat manager PC Colin Hughes, handed the stolen items back to Canon Geoffrey Marshall, rector of Wrexham Parish, yesterday.

Canon Marshall said: "We are delighted that they they have come back so quickly.

"One of my colleagues was joking that we should put a sign saying 'room at the Inn' on the empty stable but we are so pleased to get the figures and the contents of the shop back."

The quick return of the stolen items came after CCTV operators spotted a suspect whose description they had been given.

PC Hughes said: "When I came to the church yesterday I said I'd make it my mission to get them back and it's really good to do that so quickly.

"Initially there was very little to go on but thanks to the CCTV operators who recognised the suspect we were able to get them back."

A spokesman for North Wales Police confirmed that a man was in custody having been arrested on suspicion of theft and burglary.