It was her first starring role, but little Jessenia Henry played it to perfection.

At just two weeks old, she appeared as the infant Jesus in a pre-school nativity play, snuggled in a fleecy manger.

The rest of the 36-strong cast – aged between three and four – treated the tiny baby with great care as her parents looked on.

They volunteered her for the part after teachers at Dolphins Pre-School in Hove, East Sussex, said they were looking for a star turn.

Having a baby on stage has become something of a tradition at the school’s annual nativity play.

Headmistress Sheila Gavan said: ‘We always try to have a real baby and with around 70 parents attending, generally there will be a baby that’s small enough to fit in the crib.

‘The children just accepted there was a real baby.

Ms Gavan added that the show was ‘really, really good’.

‘The children absolutely loved it and were really enthusiastic,’ she said.

Jessenia is understood to have been well-behaved and did not cry during her time on stage.

At least using a real baby did not involve any health and safety precautions.

Last weekend a Mary and Joseph near Swansea had to wear crash helmets because their nativity play used real donkeys.