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People from as far afield as Switzerland and South Africa are making their way to the Somerset Levels to be part of Nudefest.

More than 300 people are expected to camp at Thorney Lakes Camping and Caravan Site near Langport over the course of this week, along with dozens of day visitors from across the local area.

With a packed itinerary on site and trips being planned to Muchelney Abbey, Bradon Gardens near Taunton and the Somerset Cider Brandy Company, there's plenty to do throughout this week-long celebration of the human body.

Those attending the event, organised by British Naturism, are being kept well-fed and watered by Clare Aparicio and her small army of helpers from the River Parrett Cafe in Langport.

Watch our livestreamed chat with it British Naturism organisers and Clare Aparicio:

Nigel and Carol Taylor from Bridgwater are volunteering at this year's festival, having been practising naturists for nearly 30 years.

Mr Taylor said: "I'd been doing some work down near Poole and we stopped off at Studland Bay beach, which was full of lots of happy nudists. We joined them and found it really relaxing.

"Our friends know about it and are very supportive - people don't tend to disapprove of it at all."

(Image: Daniel Mumby)

"We've done naked swimming before, and it's great having this right on your doorstep - you can't go wrong."

Mrs Taylor added: "I'm looking forward to going around Bradon Gardens - I hear the cream teas are good there as well.

"People should give naturism a go. When you put your clothes back, you'll realise just how restricted you were."

"Don't put 'em off and they'll take 'em' off"

Richard and Barbara Wheeler have journeyed from Exeter to be here this week, meeting up with Honiton resident Shên English.

Mrs Wheeler said: "I believe that a lot of people are private naturists - when they're just around their home they will strip off. That's only a small step from the public or 'social' naturism that we practise.

"I remember us being on a boat on holiday and we anchored off a Devon beach and stripped off out of sight. We stepped out and found loads of people playing on the beach without clothes on - so we brought up our little dinghy and rowed ashore to join them."

The couple have been to Nudefest nine times, going back to its beginning in Cornwall, and favour the relaxed atmosphere that it offers to both experienced naturists and "textiles" (people who wear clothes).

(Image: Daniel Mumby)

Mr Wheeler said: "What I love about coming here is renewing acquantainces. There's a man here from Ipswich whom I met last year - I haven't seen him since and am very happy to see him again."

Ms English, whose parents were both naturists, was once put off the lifestyle as a teenager during a visit to the south of France.

She said: "We went to a nudist campsite when I was about 15, and they were very prescriptive - they insisted that all children had to strip off, and that put me off.

"These days attitudes are very different - people should feel comfortable about stripping off whenever and however much they want."

Mr Wheeler added: "Don't put 'em [people] off and they'll take 'em [their clothes] off!"

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The future of the festival

Nudefest has been going from strength to strength since 2007 - but what does the future hold?

Organiser Rachel White said: "We have space to put additional facilities in if we need them - there's always ways and means.

"For people travelling from far and wide, Somerset is easier to get to than Cornwall. There's a sustained interest in this."

Organiser Nigel Pinkstone would not comment on the long-term future of the event in Somerset, stating that they were looking at ways to keep things fresh.

He said: "We want to keep refreshing in - it was time for a change when we moved from Cornwall.

"We may have more live bands throughout the day in future rather than restricting things to the evening - it's all a question of seeing what our members want."

Clare Aparicio, who also serves as a district and county councillor, is determined to see the festival stay in Somerset.

"I like to think that this particular part of rural Somerset has rather a fantastic rural revelry going on.

"We've just had Party by the Parrett, which has been a roaring success, and after this we're going to have the Lowland Games.

"People have embraced it so much here - it's embedded now."

Nudefest runs until Monday (July 10) and day passes are still available. To purchase a day part, or for more information, visit www.bn.org.uk and click 'Big Days Out' (PLEASE NOTE: Somerset Live is not responsible for the content of external sites).