Posing nude for a calendar is a craze sweeping the nation – and members of Croydon Cats Protection are determined not to miss out.

The charity has released its very own calendar featuring staff at the Purley shop, hoping it will be just as successful as the recent hit film starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

The saucy, but tasteful, fundraising calendar shows some of the branch’s volunteers as they have never been seen before, with some even agreeing to pose with their feline friends despite being in danger of getting scratched.

Gillian Asselin, who runs the Croydon Cats Protection helpline, is March. She said: “We had a lot of fun making the calendar. Although some of us found it rather nerve-wracking, we had a very sympathetic young female photographer, Sophie Phelps, who helped to put us at our ease. Any nerves were calmed by the thought that all proceeds will go directly to the care of the cats.” It was Gillian’s idea to put the calendar together and her husband Phillip has been spending much of his time binding them.

The calendar, priced £5 (plus p&p), is available from the branch’s charity shop in High Street, Purley, or via email from gillian@asselin.co.uk.

For advice about caring for cats, or if you can give a home to a cat, call Croydon Cats Protection helpline on 020 8763 0072.