Connah's Quay's own Calendar Girls shed their inhibitions (and clothes) to raise money

Libby's Community Cafe, in Cable Street, Connah's Quay, has become an important part of the community, doing wonders to ease problems such as social isolation.

But it relies on fundraising by volunteers, in addition to small payments made by the groups that use the facilities.

But when the idea of a nude calendar to complement the money raised through jumble sales, plant sales and raffles was raised at a recent fundraising meeting, the idea was initially met with laughter.

Libby's Calendar Girls Dot Dunbar and Rose Boswell

Community engagement worker Rose Boswell, 47, said: "We were thinking about fundraising ideas and the idea of a naked calendar came up. I treated it as a joke at first but then I thought that's not a bad idea.

"I then got to thinking about whether we would have enough people to take part."

Could this be December?

Not long after, nine of the volunteers, staff and friends of the cafe got together one day to get naked.

Among Libby's Calendar girls is Dot Dunbar, of Connah's Quay, who made her debut as a model aged 69.

Using books, cakes, and even a teapot, to keep their modesty, the ladies soon had 12 images for their calendar.

Rose Boswell in the calendar

The cafe itself has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

Rose said: "The cafe has been here for 14 years. It was first started by Libby Fletcher who passed away a few years later.

"Initially it was created as somewhere for people using the CAB to use but it has gone on to become a community hub.

"A lot of our customers are older, tackling social isolation is an important part of the cafe. We also have a memory cafe for people with dementia."

Another of the Calendar Girls

Rose added: We are constantly fundraising.

"We hope to raise £1,000 through sales of the calendar. That will cover the cafe's costs for a couple of months."

Sales of the calendar have been good, with one calendar even dispatched to Germany, but Rose says their are plenty more available to anyone wishing to buy one and support the cafe.

The calendar can be bought in the cafe in Cable Street

They can be bought at the cafe during opening hours or at the Christmas Craft Fair to be held between 11am and 4pm this Saturday (November 30).

In addition to the calendar, there will be handmade Christmas crafts and gifts, ornaments, and edible goodies. Warm mince pies and hot drinks will also be available in the cafe.