Jo Royle will follow her successful fashion show two years ago with an event at Todmorden Town Hall on Sunday, June 29. Models will reveal the latest fashions in underwear and ladies' wear on the catwalk for the 'I can't bear it' event, to raise money to rescue a Chinese Moon Bear, farmed for stomach bile in China. The bile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine, can usually be replaced cheaper with herbs and synthetics.

"We are trying to raise money to rescue a bear, who we've named Manchester. We need £5,000 to rescue one bear from this cruel and unnecessary treatment. The bears are kept in cages for up to 25 years: they never get out," said Jo, who explained that many bears die in agony or suffer horrific injuries from the trauma of having stomach bile extracted via a painful process where a catheter is inserted into their gaul bladder.

Jo hopes to raise awareness of the practice, as well as funds to rescue Manchester. And a fashion show at Todmorden Town Hall is a light-hearted way of doing both.

"The town hall is an ideal venue for this event. We have choreographer Stacey Woodall creating the opening dance and finale. I can't give any details as I don't want to spoil the surprise but I can say it's going to be raunchy, professional and entertaining."

Jo and her sister, Sarah, have already raised £1,600 with a fashion show at the Hebden Bridge Picture House in 2006 and Jo completed a sponsored ten kilometre run in Manchester. But £3,400 is still needed to rescue Manchester.

If the target is reached, Manchester will be rescued by the animal charity - the Animals Asia Foundation - who will rehabilitate and care for him for life at their sanctuary at Chengdu, Southern China. The farmer will receive money to fund an alternative source of income, such as producing arable crops, and is not allowed to replace Manchester with another bear. The charity has already rescued over 200 bears from farms in China and Vietnam.