It may come as something of a surprise, or maybe not, but there are a lot of women in Worcester who want to take their clothes off. In aid of charity, of course.

For when fitness coach Tania Skerritt and friend Jody Murray decided to publish their own Calendar Girls-style effort after both lost close family members to cancer, they were inundated with ladies wanting to pose. So much so, the launch party of Worcester Saucy Women will be attended by 160.

Unfortunately there was not room for all to feature in the 12 page calendar, but Tania and Jody still managed to include 108.

“I was absolutely amazed,” said Tania. ”I thought we might struggle to get a dozen, but when the word got around my phone never stopped ringing. Everyone wanted to be involved.”

The eventual line-up includes fitness coaches and staff from Freedom Leisure’s three operations in Worcester, at Perdiswell, Nunnery Wood and St John’s, and the David Lloyd Club at Sixways, together with members, friends, professional women and young mothers.

The project is being backed by supermarket giant Tesco, as well as Freedom Leisure and David Lloyd and various individual companies in Worcester.

Tania added: “We wanted the end product to look as good as possible, so we engaged professional photographer Julian Grant, who devoted a whole day, from 7am to 6pm, to the photographic session.

"We provided plenty of drinks and refreshments and fortunately it was very sunny and hot.

"Everyone had a super social time and we hope the calendar brings joy and puts a smile on people’s faces.”

The photographs were all taken in and around Whitbourne Hall and nearby Longlands Farm with themes ranging from The Stables and Fishing to Spring Cleaning and The Library.

One featuring 14 ladies was taken on the magnificent main staircase of the hall.

The calendar will cost £10 and proceeds will go towards a £30,000 fundraising effort for the Women vs Cancer charity, which supports Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

This will also include a 300-mile sponsored cycle ride by Tania and Jody across Costa Rica next year.

The official launch of Worcester Saucy Women will be at Tesco St Peter’s on Thursday, September 13 at 2.30pm attended by Worcester’s mayor Jabba Riaz.

When everyone, presumably, will have their clothes on.