THE thigh was the limit when saucy pub regulars suggested a barmaid raise money by serving them without clothes . . .

And they almost choked on their beer when the 36-year-old appeared to agree!

But what they didn't realise was, that when Sue Walsh said she would serve with a "bare bottom", she really meant a "bear bottom"!

The cheeky barmaid got the regulars at The Starkie Arms in Tonge Moor, to sponsor her to have a tattoo of a teddy bear on her posterior.

Money raised goes towards the Scope appeal, which helps people with cerebral palsy. The charity's national logo is a teddy bear.

Sue's valiant efforts have raised more than £140, thanks to not only the kind-hearted regulars who have sponsored her, but also generous tattooist, Eric Barton.

She explained: "Eric did the tattoo for nothing. It was an hour's work which he did for free."

However, Sue does freely admit that she slightly cheated the regulars because the tattoo is not actually on her bottom, but on her thigh.

She said: "I thought I would turn the tables on the regulars. A bear is the Scope logo so I thought it would be appropriate.

"The tattoo is a teddy bear holding a blue flower and I think it looks really smart.

"I am really pleased with the amount I have raised, especially as it was done over just a couple of days.

"They are not a bad bunch at the Starkie Arms, particularly when it comes to charities."

Sue and the regulars got involved with the Scope fund-raising, through the Ladbrokes shop close by. Manager, Pam Gallagher, explained: "Scope was the charity Ladbrokes adopted last year.

"We held a charity day at the Starkie Arms last weekend, and Sue got her idea to help while that was going on.

"We have collected about £202 for Scope. It has been a real community effort. "

As a final effort, staff at Ladrokes dressed as Goldilocks and The Three Bears at the shop on Friday. In total Ladbrokes within the Bolton region raised a total of £6,000, and nationally £450,000.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.