THE widow who inspired the hit movie Calendar Girls is to marry the vicar who helped her through her grief.

Angela Baker, 58, shot to fame after posing naked for a charity calendar with friends from her Yorkshire Dales Women's Institute group.

The calendar was produced to raise money for research into leukaemia after Mrs Baker's husband John died of the disease aged 54.

Now seven-years-later after his death the widow is to marry the Rev Charles Knowles.

Mr Knowles, 61, of Coventry, said: "I'm delighted and amazed that Angela's agreed to marry me.

"I'm not used to all the publicity, but it's very exciting.

"She's done a wonderful job raising all the money and I'm very proud of her."

Mr Knowles studied with Mr Baker at Sheffield University and kept in touch each Christmas.

After his death, the Church of England vicar sent Mrs Baker a letter and was supportive through her grief. Their relationship developed from there.

The pair will wed in East Sussex in November and will then hold a civil ceremony in Linton-in-Craven, North Yorkshire, where Mrs Baker works as a registrar.

Mrs Baker and her friends have helped raised more than £1m for the Leukaemia Research Fund following the success of the 2003 film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

Mrs Baker, whose character was played by Walters, starred as Mrs February in the calendar, in which she was seen decorating a cake with strategically-placed hands and utensils.

Her friend and fellow calendar girl Tricia Stewart, who was played by Mirren, said the women were delighted with the announcement.

"We're all thrilled," she said.

"It's lovely that after seven years Angela has found happiness again.

"We all like Charles and this is great news."