A nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic was pelted with criticism for holding a bikini beauty contest to win an internship.

Women stripped down to their swimwear to pose up for photographs in the plant's cooling tower and Facebook users were asked to vote for their favourite.

Activists and critics reacted furiously to the the competition at CEZ Temelín plant, calling it an 'ignorant and stupid' move.

Two of the 10 entrants of the competition in the bikini beauty competition pose up for pictures

A woman in pink shows and a matching bikini top stands on a rusty walkway for a photograph

A blonde woman (left) and a brunette (right) sport hard hats and matching trainers for their shots

A tattooed brunette grips two rusting railings at the power plant and smiles for the camera

Ten school graduates signed up for the competition in the South Bohemian region of the country.

The plant claimed the women had enjoyed the experience, but when the pictures went live on its Facebook page, the backlash started.

Bára Bečvářová said: 'This is a huge ignorance and a miserable move from the management.

A woman in a pink bikini stands in front of two rusted steps painted white for her photograph

Two women stand inside the cooling tower of the power plant in the Czech Republic

A woman in an orange bikini top holds onto a rusted railing inside the power plant's cooling tower

'At a time when the company is finally starting to move towards the fact that women are not judged on appearance once aspiring to choose an internship, it now depends on how she looks in a bathing suit?

'Do not really not think that's even a little stupid? Shame on you.'

Petr Jirsák said: 'Are you kidding? The internship must be a girl in a bathing suit? What is that?

'Gaining the attention of half-naked female body is vileness. Dirty, disgusting sexism.'

Many questioned why boys were not allowed to compete, and eventually the company issued an apology, stating all 10 applicants had won.

In a statement on the Facebook page, entitled Info Temelín, the plant said: 'We didn't want to offend anyone.

'The purpose of the competition was to promote technical education.

'But if the original vision raised doubts or concerns, we are very sorry.'