IT started as a giggly girly chat over teatime cocktails.

"Let's take our clothes off for charity," agreed five mature women as hit Brit flick Calendar Girls occupied column inches around the country.

Little did the ladies, who are mostly from the Hamble area, realise one of their number was taking the tipsy talk seriously.

Now four of the girls and eight more friends are preparing to shock the marine world by making their debut in the glamour industry.

Thousands of calendars are rolling off the printing press, baring glossy pics of the ladies baring their bits. And national charity Breast Cancer Care is awaiting a substantial donation - tipped to be about £100,000.

Organiser Yvonne Rannochan, 48, from Hedge End, said the idea had started when the five friends, who call themselves the Five O'Clock Club, realised they had each suffered a breast cancer scare. Yvonne said: "We thought there's a life after breast cancer and you need to know you're not the only one out there."

Yvonne made some inquiries before announcing to her friends it was really going to happen. Days later they were sipping down a boozy breakfast to summon the courage to strip off on a very cold October morning.

The calendar will go on sale in mid-November from P O Box 200, Sarisbury Green, SO31 4WP or by clicking the Yottie Tottie link at www.u-flit.com