Raunchy calendar to raise cash for North West Air Ambulance

Staff and supporters from across the county posed for three nights of photoshoots for the risque “Bare in the Air” calendar, which has gone on sale through the Air Ambulance headquarters and Booths supermarkets.

Granada TV presenter Paul Crone, who was part of the planning team and appears as Mr December, said he hoped the calendar would raise a few laughs as well as eyebrows, and bring in piles of cash for the charity.

He said: “We think it’s going to create quite a bit of interest.

"We hope it doesn’t offend anyone because after all it’s only a bit of fun.

“If it sells well I’m sure we’ll do it again. If not, we’ll have a re-think for next year.”

In one photo, for November, Formby man Richard Jordan poses naked with the helicopter, holding wife Claire’s breasts, while on the back cover Lynne Naylor from Thornton reclines provocatively on the ambulance stretcher, covering her breasts with a defibrillator.

Ramsbottom soroptimists Julie Lomas, Denise Baldwin, Judi Ellis and Lesley Pritchard appear in more demure poses.

Meanwhile Steve and Vicky Royle, from Nelson, preserve their modesty with a stretcher.

Mr Crone, a long-time supporter for the Air Ambulance, said: “The helicopter costs £1.9 million a year – that works out at £7.20 every hour – to stay in the air, and we get no money from the government.

"So when we put the call out people were willing to get their kits off for the cause.

“When it came to the actual shoot, everyone was really nervous at first, but we all ended up having a great time.”

The calendars cost £5 each and are avai-lable through Booths supermarkets, and on the charity’s website. www.nwaa.net.