YOU'VE seen the Calendar Girls, and experienced the Full Ponty. Now meet the Studs of Caerleon.

Twelve members of Caerleon Retired Persons Welfare Club - most of them in their eighties - have posed for a special calendar for 2004, wearing just enough to cover their modesty.

The club's chairman, former royal bodyguard Royce Gardener - who appears in a towel as man of the month for August in the Studs of Caerleon calendar - said they made it due to demand from other members of the group.

Mr Gardener, 80, said: "I agreed to make the calendars on the same lines as the Women's Institute, if there were enough volunteers.

"There was an overwhelming response from male members, who are nearly all over 80, and one member, Herbert Lee, is 88."

Mr Lee said he had enjoyed his modelling experience and would be buying calendars as gifts for relatives this Christmas.

Bill Lavendar, aged 82, who features as a Viking on the page for March, added: "To be doing this at my time of life is great. I just thought 'why not?' "I've already ordered four calendars."

The photographs, taken by members John and Merralyn Lloyd, show the pensioners dressed in everything from Welsh flags and a toga to an Elvis Presley costume.

And Mr Gardener, who has been chairman for the last 15 years, said the calendars were already selling well.

"I sold over 50 in one night," he said. "Members are buying two, three or even four, to give to their children for Christmas."

He added that they had all thoroughly enjoyed their brief modelling career. The club celebrated its 55th anniversary last month.

From starting out in a wooden hut on Lodge Road and borrowing 12 chairs from Newport Pensioners, the club has graduated to holding its meetings at Caerleon town hall and is now 116-strong.

The non-profit calendars are on sale priced £5 for a colour edition and £3 for black and white.

They are available from Royce Gardener, at 8 Broadwalk, Caerleon, or by calling 01633 422022.