POUTING showgirls and semi-naked rugby players helped raise money for charity in a sumptuous show at The Opera House in Boscombe.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the first-ever Dorset Society and HNB Hair, Fashion and Beauty Show in Bournemouth.

They watched as ordinary people showed the professional models how it is done - to the delight of the audience.

The models were all customers of HNB who volunteered to take part.

They slipped into designer clothes from Debenhams including Jasper Conran, Betty Jackson, Red Herring and John Rocha.

The event included a charity auction for The Butterfly Appeal, which helps people in Hampshire and Dorset with face and neck cancers, and The Matt Hampson Trust.

Matt was a London Irish player paralysed in a scrum and former team-mate Ben Stevenson is the son of the owner of HNB Salon Group, who styled the event.

Four somewhat sheepish London Irish players enjoyed a dance from girls in nightwear before themselves stripping to their boxer shorts for a catwalk parade.

Player Nick Canty said: "The old adrenaline was going beforehand but it was very enjoyable being on stage with the ladies!"

The event took four months to arrange and 35 HNB staff were involved, their stylists working on 57 models' hair during the night.

Stephanie Stevenson, director of HNB salon group and the show organiser, said: "It was an absolutely fantastic night.

"We have had an overwhelming response from ticket sales and donors."

She added: "It was very stressful organising so much in such a short time!"

Stylist Harriet Kelly, 20, had only been the manager of the Moordown salon for three weeks before being thrown into the event.

"It was a mad rush getting everyone ready, but the results were really good," she said. "It was great getting the chance to do crazy things to the models' hair."

Tatum Dent, aged two, was the youngest participant. Mum Samantha said: "She kept saying she wanted to go again."

Roni Morgan, 55, the first model on stage, is no stranger to the catwalk as she was crowned Miss Britain in 1976.

Joe Segelman, 23, from Lilliput, who has previously modelled for Storm, said: "It was a massive improvement from the rehearsals. It couldn't have gone much better."

Audience member Jenny Fraser from Lilliput, said: "I think it's a lovely idea - to have ordinary people instead of highly paid skinny models."

Joe Kane, 14, from Bournemouth, who was watching friend Helen Lewis on the catwalk, said: "This place is amazing and the atmosphere is really good."

The show was hosted by Steve Power from Wave 105 FM and Amy Stevenson from HNB and The Big Little Theatre group performed My Strongest Suit from the musical Aida.

Spectators were offered a complimentary drink when they walked in and given a Dorset Society/HNB goody bag.

There are more photos from the show in the Daily Echo edition of Saturday October 20.