THE Arndale Centre in Luton has come under fire for giving more prominence to its Santa s grotto than to a religious Nativity scene.The grotto is in the main part of the centre, where everyone can see it, but the Crib, depicting Jesus, Joseph and Mary in the stable, is upstairs in an empty shop on the Arndale gallery. That has upset some churchgoers, who feel the Arndale is ignoring the fact that Christmas is an important religious festival.Mrs Helen Doherty, who lives in the Marsh Farm area, said: I think it is outrageous. The crib is tucked away in a spot where very few people will see it. I feel the Arndale management people have put it there because they are afraid of offending people who are not Christians. I am going to complain to the Arndale Centre and I hope other people will do the same, to show that we do care about these things.It is what Christmas is all about, but the crib has been stuck in a corner, right out of the way. Mrs Pat Dennis, of Mendip Way, Sundon Park, said: I am absolutely livid about this, and so are a lot of people. The figures in the crib are beautiful, but shoppers will not see it unless they happen to be going along the upstairs gallery on their way back to the car park. It is an insult to Christians. I am disgusted. After all, Father Christmas is fiction but Our Lord is not fiction. The Rev Nick Bell, Vicar of Luton, said he was a good friend of Arndale Centre manager Brian McFarland but felt the crib should have been in a better spot in the Arndale.The Vicar said he contacted Mr McFarlandlast year over the fact that there was no crib at all in the Arndale Centre. This year there is a crib. That is a step in the right direction but I am saddened that it has not been given more prominence, said the Vicar. It should have been put in a more public place. I have watched the situation over the past few years. Mr McFarland was surprised to hear that some shoppers were complaining about the location of the crib. He said that in the many years he had been manager of the Arndale Centre he had had only one complaint about a crib.He said it had been put in an empty shop rather than in the main shopping area because the porcelain figures might get broken or be stolen. There is no empty shop downstairs that I could have used, he explained.Mr McFarland said he would be most willing to talk to anyone about the situation. People who want to discuss the crib with him can ask at the Arndale information desk for directions to his office, or they can write to him at the Arndale Centre or phone him on 01582 412636.