Nudists pedal across Portsmouth in bid to spread environmental message

Nudists rallied together as Portsmouth World Naked Bike Ride made its return.

Riders arrived fully clothed at Portsmouth Guildhall Square yesterday, before organisers staged a mini rally about the significance of the occasion.

Then everyone stripped off and posed on the Guildhall steps for pictures before getting on their bikes ready to tour around the city.

Participants came with flags, covered in paint and marker pen, masks and robes while one wheeled a cart around with music blaring out of the back.

Starting from the Guildhall Square, riders made their way through the city and down to the seafront, before taking in parts of Old Portsmouth and The Hard and finishing up at Alexandra Park.

Delivering a speech on the steps of the Guildhall, organiser Ian Henden said: ‘Since the invention of the steam engine in the 18th century, man has been using the earth’s natural resources at an ever-increasing rate – a rate that is, in the long run, totally unsustainable. One day, our resources will run out.

‘We often hear a criticism from our opponents, in response to having witnessed our protest ride; think of the children.

‘Well, we are thinking of the children and our children’s children. And the children of generations to come.

‘We need to rationalise the way we use the earth’s resources. We need to stop burning the planet on which we live.

‘We need to leave a sustainable environment for our children.’