IT ALL started as a bit of a laugh, but a calendar featuring Blaenavon butcher, Mike George, has helped to raise some big money for children's hospice, Ty Hafan.

Mr George played a part in the BBC's Coal House in November.

The programme followed modern families as they attempted to live a 1920s lifestyle in a miner's cottage in Blaenavon.

Mr George had to dress up in old fashioned clothes and deliver groceries to the families from his cart.

A friend took a photograph of him on set and made it into a calendar for a laugh.

But when Mr George hung it on the wall of his grocer's shop on Broad Street, Blaenavon, he started realising the calendar's potential as a charity fundraiser.

Mr George said: "It started off as a joke, but people kept on coming in and seeing the calendar and saying that I should make some to sell."

In the end, Mr George sold 650 calendars, raising £650 for the hospice, which was presented to the charity yesterday.

He said: "I'm very pleased with the calendar, it's raised more than expected.

"I thought it might make £300 but when we made the £600 mark I was ecstatic."

Mr George added: "It wasn't just local people buying the calendars.

"Some people brought them to send out with their Christmas cards so they have gone to Canada and Australia - all over the world!"