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A petition has been launched to stop naturist events involving children after tickets went on sale for a nude family swim session at one of Stoke-on-Trent's most popular attractions next month.

British Naturism has hired Waterworld at Festival Park for an evening to allow members and non-members of all ages to ride the water slides and wave machines in nothing but their birthday suits.

The organisation is also holding a similar event at Blackpool's Sandcastle Waterpark this weekend.

Now an online campaign has been set up to get such events scrapped.

More than 670 people have added their names.

The petition - titled 'Ban naturist events where children are involved' - reads: "These events involve a naturist organisation bringing their whole families to a 'naked swim'. This involves children!

(Image: Getty)

"I truly believe this is a massive safeguarding issue, children being naked around adults neither their parents or themselves know!

"They are at risk of being subject to abuse by sex offenders who may slip in the organisation unnoticed.

"It may be a private event but children should be protected no matter what and should not be allowed at such events. The solution to this would be either to make it an 18s and over-only event or to not allow the event to happen full stop.

"I have absolutely nothing against naturists and their lifestyle choice except when it comes to the safety of children."

The session at Waterworld is being held on Saturday, April 13 from 8pm to 10pm.Another event will be held at the venue in September.

Waterworld doesn't advertise as the entire venue is rented out by the group, who take charge of the organising.

Around 300 people are expected to attend.

News of the event has sparked outrage among StokeonTrentLive readers with nearly 1,000 comments posted on our Facebook page.

StokeonTrentLive readers react after tickets go on sale for nude family session at Waterworld Caroline Smith: "I don’t have a single issue about this regarding any consenting adult who wishes to attend but kids? Come on now. We teach children that their bodies are their own private self, and rightly so. I’m sure naturism is a beautiful and liberating thing, but it has no place for children. Keep them covered and protected and innocent for as long as possible." Lauren Wickham: "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: "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: "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: "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." Jessica Booth: "Absolutely disgusting. How is this even being allowed? You don’t know who’s going to be there. Adults do what you want, keep the kids home and safe." Charl Kirkham: "I'm all up for a bit of nudey, but with kids present, especially ones that aren't yours, is just wrong. Anyone could turn up and take full advantage of this. Why put kids under unnecessary risk?" However, not all StokeonTrentLive readers were against the event. Julie Faulker: "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." Morgo Morgs: "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. I found it awkward just wearing a cap and no shorts as that was the rule." Lorraine O'reilly: "Naturists have the same rights as anybody else it’s a great organisation with lovely people."

News of the nude swimming sessions come as a major £10 million expansion of Waterworld is ongoing. It will include four mega water slides, a water-themed indoor Adventure Mini Golf attraction and a new M Club spa and fitness facility, including swimming pools.

Based in Northampton and founded in 1964, British Naturism is the UK’s internationally recognised organisation for naturism.

Its Facebook group says it 'exists to unite and support naturists, to protect naturist places and provide more, make social nudity more acceptable across the UK'.

Tickets for the Waterworld events cost £21 for adult non members and £5 for children. Under fives go free.

To sign the petition, click here.

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