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Parents are fuming after naturists announced they will be hosting a family swimming session at Waterworld.

The event has been blasted as “naïve”, “vile” and “wrong” by parents concerned about their children’s welfare.

They say that the naked events involving children will make them vulnerable to paedophiles.

The sessions are open to all adults and children of any age and are organised by the British Naturism society (BN).

However, you do not need to be a member of BN to participate in the session.

Readers of StokeOnTrent Live expressed their anger on the Facebook post that originally reported on the sessions.

Lauren Wickham said: “Really wrong this is. If you're a parent and you take your kids here you should have them removed from your care.

“I don't care who doesn't agree with me. Why would you want anyone seeing your children naked or your children to see a grown adult stranger naked?"

Shaunna Robinshaw said: "This has got to be a joke! If adults want to do this then whatever floats your boat but so wrong and inappropriate to expose children to this."

Hayley Hughes said: "How strange is this? Why would you allow you children to be naked around adults? Why would any adult feel comfortable being naked around a child? This is vile and wrong on so many levels."

Paul Hitchen said: "Who in their right mind first sets up something like this and secondly actually attends with kids? People are either very stupid or very naive."

More than 1,400 people have signed a petition calling for a ban on naturist events where children are involved.

It states children are "at risk of being subject to abuse by sex offenders who may slip into the organisation unnoticed".

However, not all readers were against the event.

Julie Faulker said: "Family naturist events have happened for years. I remember reading something about it around 25ish years ago. This isn’t anything new. Live and let live."

While Morgo Morgs said: "I've worked these nights before at various venues. The organisation is very professional and there's checks on the door.

“You have to have ID and they are stringent. The children are supervised throughout.”

Naturists have also moved to defend the sessions.

Pamela Fraser went to her first naturism event 14 months ago and stripped off for her 21st in Blackpool this weekend.

And the 27-year-old told the BBC that there is 'little difference' to normal swim sessions..

Speaking to the BBC, Pamela said: "It's no different to going swimming with your costume on. A lot of female costumes don't hide much anyway.

"You soon realise people aren't interested in what you look like.

"The whole idea is you're stepping back from the stress of life and the feeling that you have to fit into a certain mould.”

Another woman, aged 38, told the BBC: "I do understand where people are coming from in asking 'how can it be safe?'. It's just like any area of life, you always want to protect your children.

"But some don't have an understanding of the community. I've never once been worried about anything. When you're in something, it can often be very different to what others might perceive from the outside.”

British Naturism event organiser Mark Walsh said: "Some of our events are open to non-members, which brings in new people. Otherwise we just do marketing the same as any other organisation - but mainly in nudist circles."

The next session, from 8pm to 10pm on Saturday, April 13, is one a series of events by the group, with others happening at Blackpool's Sandcastle Waterpark.

Another event will be held at Waterworld in September.

Around 300 people are expected to attend.

Tickets for the Waterworld events cost £21 for adult non members and £5 for children. Under fives go free. To book, click here.