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A naturist has revealed all about living life with her clothes off - and sought to set the record straight on the laws surrounding nudity in public.

Somerset Live recently published an article about the legal rules for sunbathing naked in your garden.

Following this, Christine Wright got in touch to tell us off and point us toward the correct information about getting back to nature.

The 62-year-old, who is a manager on the legal team for British Naturism, said the laws "hadn't changed for years".

(Image: Getty)

"The police get it wrong because they don't often get called out for naturism," she said.

"Young officers think Mrs Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells has called because she's got a flasher, but, if what they're doing is a lawful activity, then no offence is being committed."

According to the Crown Prosecution Service's website, the recommended approach to naturism should be that 'in the absence of any sexual context and in relation to nudity where the person has no intention to cause alarm or distress it will normally be appropriate to take no action unless members of the public were actually caused harassment, alarm or distress'.

Ms Wright, who lives in the North East of England, said she was involved in clarifying the law with the CPS and the College of Policing a few years ago.

She said: "If people are using their genitals to frighten people then that is a different matter.

"British Naturism advises people to be aware of others and to not be an exhibitionist.

"But, most people are just not bothered. It's not unlawful to be naked."

Naturism is defined by British Naturism as a ‘philosophical belief in a natural, naked lifestyle wherein persons espouse nudity as part or possibly all of their lifestyle’.

(Image: Getty)

Ms Wright said she has been a keen naturist all her life, having enjoyed the freedom from a young age.

"I couldn't understand why when my parents told me to put on a swimming costume on aged seven," she said.

"When it's warm enough, why would I wear clothes?

"When I told my husband - when we were going out - that I was a naturist, he quickly became one too!

"Where we live is not the most suitable climate for being a naturist, but we've got a sheltered, south-facing garden."

Ms Wright said she is just one of some five million naturists in the United Kingdom, and regularly attends organised events.

She said: "A lot of people become naturists after trying it on holiday. Once you've swum naked you never want to swim with clothes on again.

"There are loads of events, from naked Chinese meals to cruises, to camping, to caravaning. We also visit water parks and hold swimming galas."

When asked if there was an age limit to become a naturist, Ms Wright was quick to point out the benefits of introducing children to the practice.

"There is no evidence whatsoever that seeing an adult in a non-sexual context is harmful to children," she said.

"We obviously have robust safeguarding procedures and all our officers are DBS checked.

"But, in fact, children who grow up as naturists are far less likely to have body image issues when they grow up."

To read the official guidance on the laws surrounding naturism, click here or here.

To visit the British Naturism website, click here.

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