Nativity costumes are selling for three times their original price on eBay as parents lose their minds trying to dress their children for the annual Christmas play.

With shops selling out of the typical Mary, Joseph and Wise Men costumes, parents have resorted to online bidding to ensure their child is appropriately dressed. According to eBay, used and homemade angel outfits are selling for €38, while shepherd costumes are reaching up to €26.

Parents are blaming the schools for waiting too long to tell them which part their son or daughter has been given, resulting in panicked, last-minute shopping.

Back in our day, some tinfoil wings, a tinsel halo and a tea towel on the head always did the trick – what more does a school nativity need?