A NAKED charity calendar for the North West Air Ambulance has been banned from ambulance stations.

Staff and members of the public agreed to be pictured for the calendar, Bare In The Air.

The volunteers, including the helicopter pilot, posed nude, with parts of the aircraft and a variety of strategically-placed props to cover them.

But paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service are up in arms about the poses.

They say their `integrity and dignity at work' policy has been compromised.

And it is believed that NWAS bosses are also furious that the calendar has been released.

Top-level meetings are now being held to investigate how it was produced without their knowledge.

Paramedics from NWAS are seconded to work on the helicopter and the two organisations work together to save lives.

Bob Parkinson, of Unite, who is vice-chairman of the staff side of NWAS, said: "We have all seen calendars like these before, but this one oversteps the mark of what is acceptable and cuts across the trust's dignity at work policy, which we are in the process of improving.

"I am sure that the intentions behind this were entirely well-meant, but the calendar has left staff extremely angry and quite shocked at the way it seems to portray ambulance personnel."

The calendar has caused so much controversy that NWAS has banned it from being shown on any of its premises and ambulance staff are not allowed to sell it.

A spokesman for NWAS said: "The Air Ambulance is entirely independent from the North West Ambulance Service.

"It is a charitable organisation and therefore we understand they have to fundraise - and they chose the production of the calendar."

But he added: "We won't allow the sale of this calendar on NWAS premises. We neither support nor endorse this calendar."

But those involved in the making of the calendar believe it was all done in good taste.

One of the willing participants was Dan Rowan, 29, from Ashton-in-Makerfield.

He said: "At the end of the day it's for charity and I thought it was all done in good taste.

"They should know it's a little bit of fun."

A spokesman from the North West Air Ambulance said: "We don't know why anyone is upset with this calendar.

"The overwhelming response we have had has been absolutely fantastic."

The calendar, costing £5, is on sale in Booths supermarkets throughout the north west.