A calendar featuring eye-catching black and white images from the early 20th century has raised £1,456.80 for charity.

Diss Mercury: Dennis Cross presents Rachel Francis from the Big C witha cheque for proceeds from the sale of a calendar Dennis put together featuring old pictures of Diss.Dennis Cross presents Rachel Francis from the Big C witha cheque for proceeds from the sale of a calendar Dennis put together featuring old pictures of Diss. (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2015)

Picturing scenes in Diss from the early 1900s to the 1960s, the calendar was produced by town historian Dennis Cross.

Mr Cross selected the images from his vast collection of picture postcards and photographs for the Bygone Pictures of Diss calendar which raised funds for Norfolk-based Big C charity.

Initially producing 200, Mr Cross soon upped the order to 250 copies due to demand.

He said: 'I was expecting to raise £800, it's been very popular.

Diss Mercury: Diss carnival in 1951. Images copyright to Dennis CrossDiss carnival in 1951. Images copyright to Dennis Cross (Image: Archant)

'I've just retired and my job in recent years was working for a local housing authority.

'I met many people who had had cancer, had lost someone to cancer or was having treatment.

'So I thought it would be a good idea if I did something to raise money.'

The calendars, as well as being popular locally, have been sent as far as America and Bolivia for Christmas presents.

Rachel Francis, corporate and community fundraiser at the Big C, said: 'We are a small charity, we can't get everywhere and touch every town or village so it's nice to have people like Dennis helping us.

'The calendar has really captured the imagination of the public.'

Among the images featured are a snow covered Mere in the 1960s, a Cromer express train passing through Diss in about 1909, decorations in 1903 to mark the coronation of King Edward VII and a packed town centre in 1951 for the annual carnival.

The calendars were produced with the help of Photo Elite and Town and Country Printers in Diss.

Are you starting a project to raise funds for charity? Email kate.royall@archant.co.uk