London, Dec 12 : A vicar has banned his congregation from singing the Christmas carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, as he says it no longer reflects the present condition of the war torn city.

Rev Stephen Coulter, who had visited the West Bank, told them the words ‘How still we see thee lie’, from the song, no longer can be used to describe life in Bethlehem.

Coulter further revealed that what had once been a place where shepherds watched over their flocks by night, now instead has security guards watching over the people living there.

The Rev told the congregation at North Dorset District Council that on his recent pilgrimage to Israel and the West Bank he was shocked by the devastation he witnessed.

And as a result the carol has been banned from all festive services in his Dorset parish of Blandford Forum.

“My parishioners know why we will not be singing O Little Town in church this year,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying. (ANI)