28571/1 SUPERMARKET staff are creating a saucy new calendar to raise money for proteus syndrome, the condition suffered by the Elephant Man.

John Overington, who runs the news and magazines department at Sainsbury's in Frome, thought up the idea.

He said: "It started when my daughter hired the Calendar Girls video. I was so taken by the film I had a word with a photographer friend of mine and it all went from there."

Together, photographer Brian Buckland and Mr Overington began in May.

He said: "When we started we had half a dozen people who volunteered to be photographed, who were thinking it probably wouldn't happen."

But the plan went ahead. Three evening photo shoots involved cheeky poses thought up by staff.

They hope the calendar, which will be sold in the foyer of the Frome store, will go on sale at the end of September, priced £5.

The supermarket has been holding other events to raise money for proteus syndrome, such as a sponsored head shave and a raffle.

Dawn Chapman used to be a checkout supervisor at Sainsbury's in Frome. Her two-year-old son Dillon is one of just nine people in the UK who suffer from proteus syndrome. She said: "It is great to raise the profile of proteus. They all keep in touch and ask how Dillon is."