FURNITURE retailer Glasswells is aiming to raise money for the Ipswich-based St Elizabeth Hospice – and to champion local talent at the same time.

The company has commissioned three A-level photography students from Kesgrave High School to take a fresh view of distinctive buildings in Ipswich for a 2011 calendar.

The are being coached and advised on the project by freelance photographer James Fletcher, who is giving his time free of charge.

“We’ve already started working on the portfolio of images for the calendar and I have been truly impressed with the ideas and creativity that the students have on tap,” he said.

“This is a tremendously fulfilling project to work on and I’m looking forward to seeing the end product on sale in the coming months.”

Glasswells will also be covering all the costs involved with managing the production of the calendar, and the company is hoping that other local businesses will each sponsor a month so that more proceeds go to the hospice.

Andrea Johnston, manager at the Glasswells store in Ranelagh Road, Ipswich, said: “St Elizabeth Hospice is a cause that is very close to our hearts and we were keen to put on our thinking caps to create a new way of raising funds for them.

“The calendar raises the profile of our shared local area and it also gives us all the opportunity to promote the talent of our students.

“Now we are keen to work with local businesses to encourage sales of the calendar from their premises.”