Women just can't resist firemen. Those lean, muscular bodies, grimy and sweaty after hosing down a burning building, are enough to bring every woman out in beads of perspiration.

Cleveland fire brigade have raised thousands of pounds for charity recently trading on this fact - and today launch their latest fundraising effort - a raunchy calendar.

"It's a bit of therapy for the young ladies in Cleveland," said Phil Wilkinson, one of the brains behind the idea.

"There are a lot of good looking lads in the calendar, so why shouldn't we use that to do something for charity?"

Cleveland firemen have been raising thousands of pounds for charity recently, trading on their good looks.

A nine-strong stripping team has, in the past few weeks, packed out the Chicago Rock Cafes in both Hartlepool and Middlesbrough with excitable women, and it is hoped will do the same at Zanzibar in Stockton next month.

Now for the ladies, a separate group of firefighters have produced the Hot Stuff calendar. For £5, which goes to charity, you can have full-colour pictures of 12 lovely firemen, one for each month, in action poses.

There is even a little box at the side to tell you about each lad's vital statistics.

And the most daring has been saved until last - Mr December, aka Roger Morris, whipped off all his clothes for the calendar, except for a strategically-placed Santa hat.

"He was really brave to do that," said Mr Wilkinson. "He's had a lot of stick for it, but it was the most daring of the lot."

Proceeds from sales of the calendar will not only go to the brigade's welfare fund, but also to local charities and to the New York Fire Department, which receives £1 from every calendar sold.

The firefighters featured in the calendar will be out this weekend selling the calendars in shopping centres in Stockton, Thornaby and Middlesbrough, and other outlets. They will also be on sale at fire stations throughout Cleveland, as well as Asda, Big W, and other stores.

Mr Wilkinson said: "The calendar is a fun way to raise cash for charity and we hope to sell £6,000 of them in the run-up to Christmas. If the response is good we hope to make the calendar an annual event."