Thanks to the 2003 film, featuring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, the story of the racy Women's Institute members who bared all for charity is world famous.

And now after 850,000 calendars have been sold, raising £1.5 million for Leukaemia Research, six of the original 12 Calendar Girls have joined forces to produce a third fund-raising calendar in time for Christmas.

Tricia Stewart, 57, who came up with the original idea, attended a calendar signing event with fellow Calendar Girls Angela Baker and Beryl Bamforth at Harvey's department store, Halifax

"We like to call ourselves 'the Baker's half dozen' after John Baker, Angela's husband who died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1998. I think the first one was so successful because it was Women's Institute, older women in the nude, because it was in memory of our friend John and because it was to raise money for Leukaemia Research.

"And we've had a fantastic time. We never thought it would be so huge, but it's been brilliant.

"There were 200 nude calendars made last year by butchers, bakers and candlestick makers to raise money for charity, which is also amazing – we don't mind them using our idea."

The 2007 edition features six of the original images shot for the first calendar and six new ones.

"Our 2007 calendar is very much like the original in 1999.

"A whole new generation has grown up without seeing it, so that's why we wanted to include our first pictures too," she said.

Miss February, Angela Baker, 61, said: "We're older, balder and barer but if you have the original calendar then you have to have this for your collection too," she said.

"The calendar also has information about the Calendar Girls story so far, there's pictures of John and about the work of Leukaemia Research.

"We're trying to help people who get this terrible disease and hope to reach £2 million before the end of 2007."

The calendars are on sale exclusively in Halifax at Harvey's for £9.99.

Also on offer this Christmas are the Courier's 2007 calendars.

The first is called Memories of Halifax and includes 12 superb views of the town and the Calder Valley.

The second is called A Year in Calderdale and shows month-by-month life in Calderdale. Both are available from the Courier's reception.