FEATHERS, a wedding veil and skimpy bikini shorts - were the only things covering up some brave women from York when they posed for their own Calendar Girls-style calendar.

Fourteen women staff members of insurance firm Norwich Union hope to raise money for Children In Need.

The company has said it will match whatever cash is raised from calendar sales.

Ginny Green, 28, of Tadcaster, said the fundraising idea had come from seeing the Children In Need adverts on television.

She said: "We kept seeing the adverts on TV for Children In Need.

"There are quite a lot of women in our department, so we thought we'd get together and do something.

"Obviously, sex sells, doesn't it?"

Ms Green said she was hoping the calendar would be ready for the BBC's Children In Need day on November 21.

The calendar, which will be priced at about £6, will be offered for sale at Imphal Barracks, in Fulford Road, and in Norwich Union's own caf.

Meanwhile, firefighters, local footballers, fish-and-chip shop workers and mums and dads wore nothing but a smile when they bravely stripped for a calendar to raise cash for a new playground at Thorpe Willoughby, near Selby.

The calendars cost £5 each and are available from the Fox Inn, in Leeds Road, Thorpe Willoughby.

Anybody wishing to buy one can also phone the Fox Inn on 01757 704273 or log on to www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/thorpewilloughby.

Updated: 10:56 Wednesday, November 19, 2003