Apparently, sunbathing naked in public is not actually illegal

But it is brave

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

With summer bringing us more than three days of actual sunshine this year, we've had to rethink our routine. We've read up on the best ways to banish the horror that is thigh chafing, and almost everyone is swapping a desk side sandwich for a lunch hour in the sunshine, lounging on the nearest patch of grass.

We, as Brits, are hardly equipped for the soaring temperatures. As soon as the barometer hits thirty degrees we're itching to get home so we can peel off our sweat-drenched sun dresses and attempt to tan in the garden.

But if you did opt to sunbathe in the buff in the privacy of your own backyard, could you get in trouble with your neighbours?

According to the law it is not an offence to be naked in public, meaning that you're free to get nude in your garden. If you also wanted to strip off at lunch time, you technically could - although your co-workers might not appreciate the view while they're tucking into their Pret sandwich.

However your nudity can become an offence if it starts to cause distress or alarm to others, so the police are advising people to be 'discreet' when gunning for that flawless all over tan.

The police say: 'Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, it is not an offence for a person to appear naked in public, but it becomes an offence if it can be proved that the person stripped off with the intention to cause distress, alarm or outrage.'

So if you feel like letting it all lose, you can do so without getting in trouble with the law.

However, if another member of the public isn't feeling your nakedness then it might all go tits up.