A WOMEN’S weightlifting group are baring all to raise money for charity in a naked calendar.

The Strong Mamas Club based in Rawtenstall are straining every sinew to sell out their calendar in aid of Lancashire Women.

Lydia Hollinson, who runs the group said: “We have been thinking of doing for a while and we thought it was a fun idea.

“There will be 13 or 14 pictures in total in the calendar with women of different shapes and sizes and our group is not just about physical exercise but improving self-esteem and body confidence.

“Lancashire Women provides mental health support and we thought we could combine it as a fundraiser for our women.

“It has come together quite quickly and we had a professional photographer come down to do it.

“It was a bit cold but it looks good now we have got it together!

“We had lots of different shots taken ranging from women lifting weights to also boxing.

“Everybody was really nervous before the shoot but once we all saw each other then it was okay and good fun.

“There were 16 of us doing it and two of them had babies in the past three months and they have been in it too.

“Some of the images have now gone off to be put in the calendar.”

Organisers at the club, which has predominantly members from Rossendale, are no strangers to fundraising as they managed to collect £1,858 in February after completing 24 hours of strength training.

Lydia, who works in Rawtenstall, said the group was going from strength to strength.

She said: “We have been going for about a year and a half now.

“It started quite small and and now it is growing.

“People can think that women weightlifting as about muscles but there is a misconception about it.

“It can be a great way to get rid of the excess stress that life brings and you can measure success based on getting stronger and a bit more powerful.”

To get your copy of the calendar then you should email thebodyprojectfitness@gmail.com for more information.