Forget Calendar Girls - a medical centre in Bamber Bridge has its own Surgery Girls.

Receptionists, nurses, pharmacy dispensers and even a doctor at the Ryan Medical Centre, in St Mary's Road, have stripped off for a calendar which aims to raise more than £5,000 for the centre's Tender Nursing Care charity.

Charity president and GP at the centre, Dr Anne Allister said: "We had a lot of fun doing it and all the girls were very keen to take part once we had mentioned the idea.

"A couple of our male colleagues also volunteered but they chickened out at the last minute."

Already dozens of patients at the centre have inquired about the calendars, which will be on sale at the centre's flu clinic later this month.

Dr Allister said: "We are taking orders now and there has already been a lot of interest so we are hoping to raise a lot of money for the Tender Nursing Care because it is a charity which is very close to people in Bamber Bridge."

Tender Nursing Care provides night nursing for those who live alone and provides relief for those caring for a patient without the need to admit them to hospital. It was set up in 1979 by Dr Maire Bellew, whose husband, Dr Martin Ryan, the centre is named after.

The charity makes 2,000 calls a each year and covers Preston, South Ribble and Chorley and has to raise around £1,400 per week to ensure the service is free of charge. Dr Allister added: "We receive some subsidy from the Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust but it doesn't come close to covering our expenses so we have to rely on bequests and fund-raising ideas such as the calendar."

More than 1,300 copies of the calendars have been printed and production costs have been covered by sponsorship from local businesses.

Dr Allister added: "We are grateful to them because it means everything from the sale of the calendars goes straight to the charity To reserve a copy of the calendar which cost £5, call the Ryan Medical Centre on 01772 335136/337525.