THEIR fundraising efforts have taken them around the world, but last night the intrepid Calendar Girls were back on their home turf.

The Rylstone and District WI ladies, who stripped to raise funds for charity, were in York to open a pioneering research unit at the university.

The centre aims to find the causes of cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma - the cancer which claimed the life of John Baker, husband of Miss February Angela Baker.

"This is exactly why we started raising money for Leukaemia Research all those years ago, and this is why we decided to go through with the idea of the calendar, so we could support research like this," said Mrs Baker.

"I would like to thank every single person who bought a calendar, has been to see the film or has supported our fundraising."

She unveiled a plaque in memory of her husband, who was assistant National Park officer for the Yorkshire Dales until his death, aged 54, in July 1998.

It was money raised by the Calendar Girls that helped support the university's Leukaemia Research Epidemiology and Genetics Unit.

Led by Professor Eve Roman, a team of 20 researchers are homing in on the environmental and genetic factors that make people vulnerable to cancers.

The centre leads a number of nationwide studies, including the largest-ever study of its kind investigating the causes of cancers in children.

Prof Roman said yesterday: "We are absolutely delighted to be moving into these fantastic new facilities.

"This is crucial detective work that will provide vital clues about leukaemia and lymphoma, diseases which affect more than 1,500 people in Yorkshire alone each year."