Nudists want to use the days to 'educate and transmit our values'

Madrid has given permission for public swimming pools to hold a 'no swimsuit day' after a campaign by nudist groups.

The mayor Manuela Carmena has written to all boroughs in the Spanish capital to say they are allowed to host clothes free days if they think it is appropriate.

The move, which has outraged right-wing politicians, came after a petition by the Association for the Development of Nudism calling for people's right to practice nudism in public places.

Public swimming pools in Madrid will be seeing a lot more skin in future after a decision by the city

Nudist president Ismael Rodrigo said: 'What we want to do with this day is to educate and transmit our values, which are Western values.

'There is nothing criminal about the body and the best way we can show that is to try not to wear clothes when it's not necessary, and in the pool, it isn't.'

The mayor has insisted that signs must be erected at the entrances to swimming pools informing people that it was no swimsuit day in case parents preferred not to take their children.

Children would be allowed, but only if accompanied by an adult, the mayor said.

Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena has approved the no swimsuit days at the city's public pools

Conservative Popular Party politician Esperanza Aguirre, who lost to Carmena in the 2015 mayoral election, said: 'Her left-wing council only does slogans. The idea of a no swimsuit day is just one more of her crazy ideas.

'I don't know if she has the courage to implement a no veil day for Muslim women as well.'