Ryanair charity calendar 'hottest yet'

Ryanair's annual charity calendar has again received criticism for its content which the company has described ‘as the hottest yet.’

The 2010 calendar - which includes two Irish Ryanair employees - features scantily clad women.

The National Women's Council of Ireland has hit out at the Ryanair calendar and said the company had a "serious lack of imagination."

However, Ryanair is accusing the council of being clueless about how young women empower themselves.

A children's charity is set to receive €110,000 (£99,000) after being selected as the beneficiary of the 2010 calender. Kids, which helps disabled children, was chosen from 200 charity applicants. It is the first UK charity to be selected by the no-frills airline.

The charity, whose income for 2008/09 was £7.1m, will use the money to provide more short breaks for disabled children and their carers.

Kevin Williams, chief executive of Kids, said the charity was satisfied that both the calendar and Ryanair were reputable. He said that, contrary to some reports last year, Ryanair staff were not forced to take part.

"It's great when a bit of fun can serve such a serious purpose," said Williams.

Eight hundred of Ryanair's 4,000 cabin crew applied to pose for the 2010 calendar. A

Homelessness organisation Dublin Simon Community and respite care charity Angels Quest have previously benefited from sales of the calendar.

www.kids.org.uk