TWO wives from Swindon are celebrating the success of their other halves in a national Hunky Husbands and Beautiful Boyfriends competition.

Tass Tsokos, 30, from St Andrew's Ridge and Martin Timms, 28, from West Swindon have both been chosen as semi finalists by Best magazine after being nominated by their partners.

Now readers will vote for 12 of the 24 semi finalists and those left will strip off for a special calendar.

One winner per month will also be featured in Best from January.

All 12 will also win a luxury weekend away at a top London hotel.

Martin, a welder at Honda, was nominated by his girlfriend of three years Carey Middleton, 26.

Carey, an administrator at PHH, describes Martin's looks as exotic and hunky.

She said: "He is tall with dark hair and lovely dark eyes. He also has a really nice toned body."

She sent a snapshot of Martin into Best after reading about the competition in September. He had been chosen as a finalist within a week.

"Martin knew I had entered him but he didn't seem too bothered, then when he got through all he could say was 'Oh my God'," said Carey.

A professional photo-grapher visited the couple at home that week and took the photographs of Martin that are in this month's copy of the magazine.

"I feel proud of him but I know his mates at work have been having quite a laugh about it," said Carey.

Painter and decorator Tass was nominated by his wife Kerry, a 28-year-old sales assistant.

The couple have three children, Jade, eight, Jack seven and Summer Mae, two.

Kerry didn't tell Tass she had sent in his picture until he was chosen to appear in the magazine.

"I didn't believe her at all when she finally decided to tell me," he said.

When Tass's picture appeared in the magazine he said his two oldest children burst out laughing.

Tass said Swindonians should vote for him because: "I am a likable bloke and I really need a weekend away from the kids."

Louise Court, editor of Best magazine, said: "This is the second year of the Hunky Husbands calen-dar, and this year we have received an overwhelming response to the competition. Women from all over the country are obviously taking such pride in their partner, and thankfully for us, are more than happy to share them with all our readers!"