THIS year's most-valued Christmas surprise isn't likely to be a robotic pet, a scooter or even a Tellytubby.

It's a raunchy calendar - and the latest one is featuring models making their debut at an average age of 46.

It went on sale last week and they can't print them fast enough. Already there is a week-long waiting list for the calendar featuring ten scantily-clad women from Hamble Structures in Hamble.

They have been taken by surprise by the success of the calendar that started as a joke and shows them in striking poses around the aircraft parts factory.

Maintenance secretary Georgie Moody, 54, uses a large spanner on the shopfloor while wearing a blue basque and payroll superviser Georgie Foyle, 50, is naked underneath a mound of cash.

Orders have flooded in from America, Canada and Sweden and the girls have become pin-ups among their 1,200 colleagues in Hamble.

Fitter Derek Hunt said: "I'm happy to wait a week for it. A lot of people have seen it and it's a big topic of discussion on the shop floor. I will hang mine in pride of place on my lunch box."

They are the latest local workers to abandon traditional British reserve, along with their clothes, following in the footsteps of the self-confessed fatties from New Forest District Council and the Romsey Rapids fitness fanatics whose calendars were both featured in the Daily Echo last week.

Hamble calendar organiser Maureen Sturgess, 48, said: "It started as a joke. We didn't think we would raise much money but we have been inundated with orders from all over the world.

"We wanted to raise about £500 for the Hospitals at Christmas Appeal but already we have raised £1,000 and sold about 350 of them."

To order your copy call 023 8045 3371. The calendars cost of £3 but as all the money is going to Southamp-ton General Hospital and Queen Alexandra's in Portsmouth most buyers have coughed up a bit more in the festive spirit.

Who's Who:

Miss January - receptionist Laura Williams, 56, from Southampton

Miss February - secretary Heather Wellman, 42, from Southampton

Miss March - secretary Maureen Sturgess, 48, from Southampton.

Miss April - pay supervisor Georgie Foyle, 50, from Southampton.

Miss May - maintenance secretary Georgie Moody, 54, from Southampton.

Miss June - programme administrator June Johnston, 42, from Southampton.

Miss July - nurse Carol Meech, 37, from Southampton.

Miss August - receptionist Jan Pink, 52, from Southampton.

Miss September - telephonist Mandy Jones, 37, from Hamble.

Miss October - financial accountant Nicola Smithwick, 28, from Southampton.

November and December were group shots.