A MAN who stripped off for a controversial calendar has said he was happy to bare all for charity.

John Raynor, 41, also known as Mr August on the calendar, spoke as the models were praised for their part in helping to raise £2,700 for charity.

Pendle Mayor, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, presented the recycling plant workers who posed naked for a calendar with a framed special edition of the saucy publication in aid of the Frank Street Old Aged Pensioners' Centre in Barnoldswick.

The special reception was organised by the two women behind the calendar, Jennifer Purcell and Dianne Hodkinson.

John Rayner, 41, also known as Mr August, said the experience had been great fun for the lads who work at SITA depots in Barnoldswick, Burnley, Padiham and Great Harwood.

He said: "I think we all thought it was a joke when Jennifer and Dianne approached us about it, but when they turned up with their camera, we realised they were serious.

"But it has been such good fun, I would do it all again and it has all be for a good cause."

The saucy publication caused controversy before it had even made it to the printers. Lancashire County Council was asked to be one of the sponsors but refused to back it for fear of damaging its "name and reputation".

This forced its recycling contractor SITA to pull the £2,000 sponsorship money it had agreed to donate. Other sponsors stepped in to help out, including Skipton Building Society, Walker Foster Solicitors, in Barnoldswick, the GMB Union Lancashire Region and the Transport and General Workers Union.

The rest of the printing costs were covered by advance sales of the calendar following the furore with county hall - the first 1,000 copies that rolled off the presses were sold in a day. Since then another 1,000 have been printed and sold.

Mr Rayner, from Barnoldswick, said: "I think the council was stupid not to back this calendar. They shot themselves in the foot, because it would have been good publicity for recycling as well because all the pictures were connected to our work at the depots.

"Having said that, I think they did us a favour because all the publicity meant they sold really quickly."

Jennifer and Dianne are now arranging an official hand over of the cheque for £2,700 to the centre, which was raised to help pay for repairs.