A GROUP of 'real' Redditch women have stripped off for a charity calendar.

The group, led by Debbie Wickett, is raising cash for the Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation, which believes all venues should be installed with potentially lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators.

The charity was set up by Rob and Maggie Underwood after not one, but two tragic deaths.

Their daughter Charlotte died in December 2010 of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, then three years later their son Craig died from Marfan Syndrome.

Debbie said: "The calendar is a cheeky twist on the original Calendar Girls idea - we did the Redditch version.

"I was inspired by the supporters of the Lucie Southall Leukemia Fund when they did something similar a few years ago, and I had intended to focus on this project next year given that Maggie and Rob have a lot going on with the various testing and monitoring going on with the family.

"I was chatting to a good friend of mine, who is also a professional photographer, and he convinced me we should go ahead rather than wait, and offered his services in support.

"The whole project from start to finish has taken around eight weeks - I went into the photoshoot on November 3 without any sponsors, just a lot of willing volunteers and a bit of faith, not knowing whether it was possible to complete in time."

15 women took part, ranging in ages from 17 to 49, all different shapes and sizes, and from all walks of life.

Debbie added: "Collectively we have 24 children, two of us are grandmothers, with 11 grandchildren between us and two of us took part with our daughters.

"The one thing we all had in common was our support for this charity and that we were all 'real'.

"Not only are we raising money for a very worthy local cause, but many of the women that took part came out of this empowered and more self confident because of the experience and I am incredibly proud of all of them."

The calendar will officially launch Tuesday, December 5.

The aim is sell around 300 copies, costing £10 each, with all proceeds going toward the charity.

For more on the calendar, including where to get one, search for tartsforhearts on Facebook.