“THEY’RE not going to beat us.”

Those are the words of a Southampton church leader which saw its nativity scene set on fire in a suspected arson attack.

Members of Shirley Warren Action Church has spent “hours and hours” and hundreds of pounds building the scene in Warren Crescent.

But the scene – complete with a Joseph and Mary and sheep and cows – went up in smoke after it was torched.

It was going to be the centre point of a Christmas family service yesterday.

Church minister Reverend Jenny Elliott said: “Our idea was to bring some kind of presence into the community.

“People loved the idea, a team of volunteers got together to build a set of life-size figures.

“It was very sad to see what happened. I was very stunned when I arrived.”

Rev Elliott added: “Some volunteers put a lot of time and love and money to create that nativity scene.

But last night the “defiant” community came together for a service featuring the nativity with real people playing the characters sat in the burnt-out cabin.

Church treasurer Angie Baker said the show would go on despite the blaze.

She said: “We’re going to have actual people sat in there. They’re not going to beat us.”

One neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, saw the fire and reported it to the emergency services.

She told the Daily Echo: “There were blue and white lights illuminating the scene.

“Normally you could see a blue.

“I just saw the orange.

“The fire was pretty big by the time the firefighters arrived.

“Lots of people have been interested in it, we’ve seen lots of people come to take a look at it.

“It’s been really good to have it.”

It is not the first time the church has been attacked.

In 2012, the church was targeted by thieves for the lead in the roof which led to a Daily Echo-backed appeal to raise £1,000 to fix the roof.

Angie added: “We were lucky the fire didn’t spread to the church, we were so lucky.”

A £100 sign which had recently been bought was also vandalised.

But Rev Elliott said they will look to rebuild the scene.

“Next year we will definitely rebuild it. It really did bring excitement and entertainment to people.

“That’s enough of a reason to re-do it.”

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call Hampshire police on 101.