A BEAUTIFULLY illustrated wall calendar is set to raise thousands of pounds for Shropshire's Hope House Children's Hospice this Christmas thanks to the generosity of a talented amateur artist and his friends in the printing industry.

Gerry Acton from Ludlow has chosen 12 of his stunning gouache paintings of horses, dogs, birds, cattle and sheep for the top quality calendar which comes in its own presentation sleeve and would make a stunning present.

Every penny of the £10 cover price will directly help local children and their families who depend on vital care and support from Hope House Children's Hospice.

The calendar includes some of the paintings of animals at the Guiting Power Rare Breeds Centre, started by Joe Henson, dad of Countryfile's Adam Henson. Gerry was commissioned to go there by Massey Ferguson in the 1980s and his paintings were used in their popular calendar for customers.

Although Gerry began his working life as a commercial artist, it was in the field of printing where he built his hugely successful career, eventually owning a company employing 400 people. It was while giving a talk about his fascinating life for Ludlow Friends of Hope House that he had the idea for the calendar.

With the help of his printing industry contacts at Blast Design and ITG of Birmingham more than 3000 copies have been produced free of charge - if they all sell at £10 each that will mean more than £30,000 for Hope House!

You can pick up your copy of Gerry's calendar at any Hope House shop, including Ludlow, or call Hope House on 01978 262901 for mail order (postage and packing is £3.50).